New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) The National capital’s Pragati maidan is decked up for a nine-day World Book fair starting from January 10 at Halls 2-6 of Bharat Mandapam.
The 51st edition of New Delhi World Book Fair will see the theme of ‘Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75.’ The theme pavilion will focus on showcasing the bravery and history of the Indian armed forces through books and displays.
Qatar is the guest of honour country, whereas focus country is Spain. Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, said, “This year there will competitions, children and cultural activities in which people can participate in the World Book Fair.”
Started in 1972 with 200 participants, the World Book Fair was inaugurated by V V Giri, then President of India. At present the fair has become a leading international literary gathering, attracting publishers, authors, scholars, and readers of all ages.
Organised by the National Book Trust India, under the Ministry of Education, the entry to the venue of the fair will be free.
More than 1,000 publishers from different corners of the world will showcase their books in 3,000-plus book stalls. More than 600 events will take place here, the organiser said.
Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a digital initiative of the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, will be a major attraction. It will offer access to over 6,000 free ebooks, reinforcing the fair’s commitment to inclusive and accessible reading for all.
Keeping the growing shift toward digitalization in mind, the World Book Fair will appeal to new-age readers through initiatives like Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, while simultaneously celebrating traditional reading by welcoming ardent book lovers who find peace and pleasure in holding and reading physical books.
Vaishali Shahtri, a young working professional, said, “As a book lover, my passion for books goes beyond stories and into unique experiences. At the World Book Fair, I expect to not only delve into the world of stories but also in the digital experience of it. Being immersive and diverse, the E-Pustakalay will provide the readers like me with a free access to more stories. It seems interesting.”
Priya Chatterjee, a high school student, said, “I have always loved reading, and the Delhi Book Fair is the perfect place to discover stories from around the world. With international publishers here, I’m excited to explore books I’ve never seen before.”
Soon after the inception of the New Delhi World Book Fair in 1972, the Kolkata Book Fair started in 1976 has been celebrated as the world’s largest non-trade book fair and together they have become pillars of India’s literary culture.
While Delhi draws a global audience of publishers, authors, and scholars, Kolkata celebrates the country’s vibrant reading culture with its lively, people-focused atmosphere. The venue will remain open for the bibliophiles from 11 am to 8 pm.
