South Asia’s premier publishing conclave, the BluOne Ink presents Jaipur BookMark, running alongside the Jaipur Literature Festival, featured a full day of insightful conversations on the evolving global publishing ecosystem. Publishers, editors, agents, translators, authors, and industry leaders came together to examine innovation, contracts, self-publishing, translation, academic publishing, global art and anime, and international literary exchange.
An eagerly awaited fourth day at Jaipur BookMark began with The Future of Books: Reimagining Narratives, featuring Delphine Clot, Josselin Azorin-Lara, and Maÿlis Vauterin in conversation with Swati Chopra. The session opened with an address by the Director of the French Institute in India, who officially announced the "French-Indian Year of Innovation." This was followed by a deep discourse regarding rights, ethics, and the importance of respect for authors and readers within transnational ties. The highlight of the event was a presentation by Matriochkas, a book-to-screen adaptation team, who explored the evolving relationship between publishing and film production. Panellists also examined the advent of AI and its potential impact on storytelling, citing Studio Ghibli, while discussing copyright concerns. The speakers concluded that while mediums may change, the power of the story remains constant, and emphasised the necessity of investing in the artists of tomorrow.
Contracts: Reading the Fine Print, featuring Amrita Tripathi and Dhruv Singh in conversation with Hemali Sodhi, offered a close look at publishing contracts from both creative and legal perspectives. The discussion clarified concepts such as contract terms and duration, territorial rights, formats and warranties, copyright as the exclusive right to reproduce a work, and examined how leverage operates between contracting parties. The panel also considered newer questions around copyright in the age of AI, particularly the use of content to train machines, alongside the legal dynamics involved in translation rights.
Furthermore, Veterans and visionaries in translation and imprints, Arunava Sinha and Vivek Shanbhag, explored the cultural contexts, vocabulary, and philosophical concepts that are imperative for high-quality translation. The panel further discussed the gaps, distribution, payment, and marketing challenges within the world of translation. The speakers highlighted the importance of providing proper training for the next generation of translators.
Ye Dil Manga More: Art and Anime from Japan took the spotlight on day 4 as they featured manga artist Yoshitoki ?ima and editor Yoshiaki Koga in conversation with Radhika Jha, with interpretation by Tomoko Kikuchi. The discussion traced the evolution of manga in Japan, noting the role newspapers once played in popularising it. Reflecting on its adaptability, Koga remarked that “manga grew with the times.” ?ima spoke about the differences between manga and animation, and the challenge of translating emotion and intent from page to animation. The session explored manga’s expanding reach and popularity, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, its growth into anime and merchandise, and the influence of AI on manga creation.
As the fourth day at Jaipur BookMark came to a close, the programme reaffirmed its role as a crucial platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation, bringing together global perspectives to chart the future of publishing in an interconnected world.
The final day of the 2026 edition will bring to the audience a selection of sessions, including Redefining Bestsellers: What is Selling in the Indian Markets, featuring Anirudh Chakravartty, Milee Ashwarya, Saksham Garg, Shailesh Bharatwasi, and Swati Chopra in conversation with Mita Kapur; and Indology: Shades and Layers of a Civilization featuring R. Balakrishnan and Su Venkatesan in conversation with T.S. Saravanan, introduced by Namita Gokhale and presented by Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation.
