Understanding the Inclusionary Practices and Politics of Representability and Accessibility in Indian Children’s Literature Publishing

Abstract: This article aims to understand the inclusionary practices of children’s literature publishing houses in India with a focus on disability. The article engages with authors and publishers through interviews to understand the politics and practice of publishing and disseminating children’s literature texts in India. The Indian publishing industry for children has redefined itself in the past twenty years by publishing and representing stories previously considered taboo or “inappropriate” for child readers. Intending to be more inclusive and equitable in its representation, the publishing industry started telling stories that reflected the real-life experiences of children in India. Consecutively, issues such as gender, sexuality, class, caste, and disability found a place in the conversations and considerations. However, there continues to be a disparity between the practices and politics of representing disability and accessibility for disabled people. The article begins by offering a brief background of disability in Indian children’s literature to understand the growing relevance of the issue amongst readers and the demography of the intended readership.