The New Delhi World Book Fair will soon be the world’s biggest book fair.
– Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’
The wait is over for book lovers as the 28th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2020 was inaugurated at 11 AM on Saturday at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Marking Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, it is themed ‘Gandhi: The Writers’ Writer‘ and will host over 600 exhibitors. Organised by National Book Trust, in association with ITPO, the 2020 edition of the Fair runs from January 4 to 12.
The theme highlights the various facets of Mahatma Gandhi’s life and his influence on some of the major authors of Indian literature in the country and abroad. The fair will focus on the multi-dimensions of Gandhi as a writer, editor, journalist, publisher, printer as well as an excellent mass communicator.
NDWBF was inaugurated by Union Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nisank’. Eminent Gandhian scholar, Prof. Girishwar Misra; Chairman, National Book Trust, Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma; Joint Secretary, MHRD, Shri Madan Mohan, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Executive Director, ITPO and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Pokhriyal said that we are in the midst of an ocean of books and this Mahakumbh of books is filled with thoughts, the thoughts which give power to humanity. He said that this book fair is a place where people meet each other and generate and share new thoughts and ideas. He added that the books help the youth of India to come across new thoughts.
The Minister appreciated the fact that the New Delhi World Book Fair is arguably Asia’s biggest book fair and he was hopeful that this fair would soon become the world’s biggest book fair.
NBT Chairman Govind Prasad Sharma said that this edition would highlight the various facets of Mahatma Gandhi’s life and his influence on writers of all ages. “The theme is an attempt to give booklovers a glimpse of how Mahatma Gandhi, a great strategic communicator, inspired and influenced generations of writers and how the writers understood and emulated Gandhiji in words. In the specially designed pavilion (inspired by Sabarmati Ashram), with hand-spun materials as wall cladding; there will be an exclusive exhibition of 500 books of 100 publishers on and by Gandhi in different Indian languages, as well as 30-panel discussions, book launches and performances related to the theme,” NBT said.
Open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and with free entry for school children in uniform, senior citizens and differently-abled, the book fair sees books from Indian authors as well as acclaimed authors from abroad. Book lovers and voracious readers can find books of different Indian and foreign languages, along with adaptation and translations at NDWBF. Apart from literary and publishing conferences and programmes, the fair also opens up a gateway to the publishing and intellectual world of South Asia.
Publishers
This year, more than 600 publishers from India and Abroad are participating at the book fair. The Indian publishers exhibiting books in different languages include Bangla, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Maithili, Malayalam, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu across more than 1300 stalls at the Fair.
History
The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), held for the past 48 years, is a major calendar event in the publishing world. New Delhi World Book Fair was first held in 1972 and saw 200 participants. The fair, which is India’s oldest book fair after Kolkata book fair, was inaugurated by former President of India V V Giri.
Themes in the past few years
2019: 27th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair
Theme: ‘Books for Readers with Special Needs’
Guest of honour: Sharjah
2018: 26th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair
Theme: Environmental issues such as climate change, global warming, and water pollution.
Guest of honour: European Union
2017: 25th New Delhi World Book Fair
Theme: ‘Manushi – Books Written on and by Women’
2016: 24th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair
Theme: Cultural diversity ‘Vivid Bharat -Diverse India’
Guest of honour: China
2015: 23rd edition of New Delhi World Book Fair
Theme: ‘Suryodaya: Emerging voices from North East India’
Guest of honours’ country: Singapore with Korea as the focus country
2014: 22nd edition of NDWBF
Theme: ‘Kathasagara: Celebrating Children’s Literature’
Guest of honour: Poland
2013: 21st edition of NDWBF
Theme: ‘Indigenous Voices: Mapping India’s Folk & Tribal Literature’
Guest of honour: France
2012: 20th NDWBF
Theme: ‘Towards 100 years of Indian Cinema’
Before 2013, New Delhi World Book Fair used to be held biennially or once in two years.
PHI Publications is an integral part of this event. Come and visit us to explore our Eastern Economy Editions in virtually all disciplines—engineering, sciences, management, computer science, business/economics, IT, humanities and social sciences.
We welcome you to join us in New Delhi World Book Fair 2020
at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Stall Nos. 325 and 326, Hall No. H-8-11