New Delhi is preparing to welcome bibliophiles and curious minds as the 53rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair gets ready to open its doors. In a historic first, entry to the fair will be completely free for all visitors, aiming to attract a massive and diverse crowd.
A Grand Celebration of Books and Ideas
The literary extravaganza will be held at the Bharat Mandapam from January 10 to 18. Organized by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), the fair promises to be a vibrant universe of stories, ideas, and discussions.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will inaugurate the event, which is touted as the world's largest B2C book fair. The scale is monumental: over 1,000 publishers from more than 35 countries will participate, alongside nearly 1,000 speakers and over 600 scheduled events. Organizers are anticipating a footfall exceeding 2 million visitors.
Professor Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman of NBT, emphasized the dual purpose of the free entry and this year's theme. "We completed 75 years of Independence, and to salute the armed forces, our theme pays tribute to their contribution," he said. "For the first time in history, we are making entry free to accommodate as many visitors as we can."
Saluting Valour: Indian Military History Takes Centre Stage
The thematic heart of this year's fair is the pavilion 'Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @75'. This immersive experience is designed as a deep dive into the nation's defence legacy. Visitors can explore a collection of over 500 military history books and attend more than 100 theme-based talks and events.
The pavilion will feature impressive life-sized replicas of the Arjun tank, INS Vikrant, and LCA Tejas. A special exhibit will honour the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardeesGeneral V K Singh, Lt Gen Satish Dua, and Colonel S C Tyagi.
Global Participation and Cultural Bridges
The fair strengthens its international character with Spain as the focus country and Qatar as the guest of honour. Qatar's Ambassador, His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Jabir Al Jaber, praised the fair as "one of the most prominent cultural platforms in the world," highlighting the book's role in transcending boundaries.
Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain, Director of the Doha International Book Fair, noted the events would highlight the Indian expat community's role in shaping Qatari culture. France is also marking its strong presence with a dedicated pavilion, as highlighted by Grégor Trumel, Director of the French Institute in India.
Beyond the main theme, the fair will host exhibitions marking 150 years of Vande Mataram and celebrating Sardar Patel's nation-building efforts. The Authors' Lounge will provide a networking space, and the PM-YUVA 3.0 initiative will continue to mentor young authors writing in 22 Indian languages and English.
Yuvraj Malik, Director of NBT-India, summed up the fair's mission: "We are starting the new year with books. To expand the scope... and to invite Gen Z and connect them to the world of books, we made entry completely free." For many, like ITPO's Executive Director Premjit Lal, the fair beautifully bridges generations, offering nostalgia to some and a grand new literary experience to others.
