Book Fairs in India
Books, it is said are the quietest and most constant of friends, the most accessible and wisest of counselors and the most patient of
teachers. So when one has a chance to go to a place where there is nothing but books then can it be missed? Definitely, not possible, if there is a book fair in your city, it is one event that cannot be missed.
Book Fairs give you access to a wide variety and range of books with a lot of good deals. They are also a place where you can meet people of similar interest, indulge in meaningful conversation, discover new books and new authors. They are also a place for cultural exchange, to explore books from different languages, regions and also foreign cultures. At times there is even a chance when you can get to interact with your favourite author!
Book Fair
India ranks amongst the leading and the biggest book publishing centres in the world. The large population and the vast geographical area gives India the advantage over several other countries. The rich heritage in terms of different regional languages and its literature is an added bonus. Count in the English language readers. No wonder the demand for books and the number of readers are always on the rise.
The demography of book lovers in the country is the reason for the several book fairs that are held across the length and breadth of the country every year. The recently concluded New Delhi World Book Fair was one of those. A much-awaited book fair in North India, this fair sees a huge crowd every year. Known for interesting themes each year, this year the focus of the fair was on ‘READERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS’, with special emphasis on children with special needs and their reading needs. A special section was created in the Children’s pavilion, where stalls exhibited exclusive books on Braille, books for differently-abled children, audio books, integrated print-Braille books, books for children with behavioral/psychological problems.
The Children’s pavilion had a lot of activities to encourage young minds to read more. From dramas and skits to storytelling sessions, workshops and panel discussions, a lot of schools, both government and private, participated to promote the reading habit in the young generation.
For the grown-ups, there were books in abundance as well. From fiction, non-fiction, classics to new writers on the block, everything was there to pick up from. The foreign section too had many books available from the world over. In the foreign pavilion, Sharjah was highlighted.
As usual, the main organizer, the National Book Trust of India was one of the busiest stalls during the entire duration. Books at extremely low prices and the range of stories in both English and hindi being the main reasons.
While Delhites wait for another year for more food for their soul, here is a list of book fairs that are held in India throughout the year:
- The Chennai Book Fair: Held every year in the first week of January, this fortnightly book fair is one of the biggest gathering of bibliophiles in South India. Regional authors and their works find a prominent place in this fair. This year, book lovers from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore had also made inquiries to attend the book fair.
- The Vijayawada Book Festival: This is organized by the Vijayawada Book Festival Society (VBFS) every year in the month of January. Several interesting events such as ‘Walk for Books’, birth centenaries of renowned Telugu writers and competition for students are organized. Books are available at very good discounts. There is no entry fee.
- Jaipur Literature Festival: Hosted in the last week of January every year, this is one fest that has the highest number of eminent and prominent figures from the world of literature, business, politics, sports. Writers and Festival directors William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale invite speakers to engage and express in free dialogue and thoughtful debates.
- The International Kolkata Book Fair: This is the largest book fair not only in India but Asia, and the largest non-trade book and most attended fair in the world. There are many foreign participants and each year literature from one country is dedicated as a theme of the fest. It is held around the first week of February.
- The Mumbai International Book Fair: Another January Book fair, it is organized by the Good Governance India Foundation to promote literacy and reading as a habit.
- The Bangalore Book Fair: Generally held in November, this fair is believed to be the second largest in India. It is organized by the Bangalore Booksellers and Publishers Association and is held in the Palace Grounds.
- The Kochi International Book Fair: Organized by the Antharashtra Pusthakotsava Samithy, it is held in the last week of November. This 11-day book fair emphasizes mainly on the book lovers.
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