The New Delhi World Book Fair is India’s second largest. With only two hundred participants, it was first inaugurated by V V Giri, the President of India, in 1972. Since then, the book fair has been organized annually by the National Book Trust of India, and now attracts publishers worldwide. Along with publishers, the eight-day fair also attracts book promotion agencies, cultural centres as well as Indian and foreign exhibitors. The fair is popular, not only for books, but also as a platform for panel discussions, book launches, and various workshops. CEOs and senior executives also participate in talks about the Indian and International book trade, where they share their ideas and perspectives on the industry.
From the 6th of January to the 14th, Pragati Maidan was abuzz with people of all ages searching for books and enjoying the plethora of activities taking place in the area. This year’s theme was “Environment & Climate Change” which was represented by four sub-sections:
1) Platform to promote environmental awareness
In 2017, the book fair took up the topic of female empowerment, showcasing literature written by women from the earliest times to the present date. The main exhibit in under this theme was titled ‘Manushi’.
2) Recycling books
The organizers also presented a diverse range of books to spread awareness about the environment. Books such as Climate change and the future of Himalayan farming by Tor H Aase were displayed in a pavilion. Sites like bookchor.com, which promotes the donation of old books and sells second-hand books at a low cost, were also represented at the fair. The co-founder of the site explained his mission as reselling ‘recycled books’, which can “cut down the use of paper by almost three–fourths.”
3) Children’s books
Organizers also incorporated books for young adults and children. The book fair highlighted books about global issues that are aimed at a young readership, such as an upcoming series Go Green which was advertised by Om Bookstore. The books are simple yet creative and effective in their portrayal of climate issues and the current state of the environment.
4) Publishing houses take a stand
The publisher Penguin Random House usually puts up one of the biggest stalls at the book fair. They sell a variety of books for students of literature and are well known for their classics and range of fiction. The publishing house is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified publisher. Any company that bears the FSC logo is required to guarantee an environmentally responsible source for its products. Penguin Random House also emphasised its membership in the Publishers’ database for Responsible Environmental Paper Sourcing (PREPS).
Plethora of books available for all
One of the benefits of the book fair is the availability of books at low cost, which encourages readers to buy books in bulk. Intelligent debates, a platform to share perspectives and the presence of innumerable book stalls encourage the audience to engage their minds in productive and fruitful conversations, which facilitates the development of young minds in India.
Indeed, many parents were brought to the fair by their children, who reported enjoying the buzz around the event. However, even with more than eight hundred different publishers present, many people reported their disappointment that several genres were unrepresented. Many lovers of literature were disappointed by the lack of dystopian novels at the fair.
Most popular stalls
Games of Thrones series is currently dominating both the world of literature and of television and had a prominent place at the fair. Other well-known fantasy and thriller novels, such as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, were also sold this year in large quantities.
There was also a rise in the demand for comics. Akbar and Birbal took over the fair this year, with children rushing to grab their copies. There were even several mini stalls for Japanese comics that have a growing audience, and the availability of Manga-style comics was surprisingly extensive. Books in all the stalls were available in many languages, apart from Hindi and English.
Chai and food
Any Indian fair is incomplete without a food station. A wide selection of street food was present, including the popular chole bature. There were even a few people who found the small cups of tea a sufficient motivation to visit the fair, but all inevitably left with a book in hand.
The New Delhi World Book Fair of 2018 was a festival for all. The organizers made a commendable effort to satisfy all bibliophiles, while also using the event to make a statement in support of the environment. Book lovers are now waiting with bated breath for the 2019 book fair.
