Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurates the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025

Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurates the New Delhi World Book Fair 2025

 

New Delhi, 1 February 2025(RJS PBH -RJS POSITIVE MEDIA)

 "Reading isn’t just a hobby; it’s a transformative experience. When you make a child enjoy reading, you contribute to nation building,” Hon’ble president said while sharing her own experience at the inauguration of the 2025 edition of New Delhi World Book Fair.

One of the largest book fairs in the world, New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 was inaugurated today at the iconic Bharat Mandapamin the presence  of Russian Ambassador to India Mr. Denis Alipov, Dr. Alexéi Varlámov a prominent Russian writer, Rector (Vice Chancellor) of Gorky Literary Institute, Moscow ; Shri Sanjay Kumar (IAS), Secretary, School Education & Literacy, Sh. Vineet Joshi (IAS), Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT, and Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT.

 

In her address, Hon’ble President emphasized “The Book Fair provides an excellent expression to India’s cultural diversity, its unity and impressive progress,”

The theme of the 2025 edition of New Delhi World Book Fair is Republic @75 highlights the role of different institutions and that of a vibrant publishing eco system of our nation in strengthening the republican values in the last 75 years. A dedicated Theme Pavilion celebrates the very first book of India as a republic i.e. The Constitution of India in unifying the nation through its foundational values. Among other facets of the Constitution, the exhibit also focuses on the art-work of the Constitution.

 

Speaking at the Inauguration ceremony, Secretary School Education, Shri Sanjay Kumar reflected on language and literature’s role in shaping the world “As much as language and literature traverse across the world, this world becomes more beautiful,” he said. He called the fair a bridge between cultures, with participation from France, Germany, the UK, the USA, and beyond. “In many ways, this book fair mirrors the linguistic plurality of the nation,” he noted, emphasizing India’s 46,000 public libraries and their role in making books accessible.

 

The Russian Ambassador to India, Mr. Denis Alipov began his address in Hindi, delighting both, members of the audience as well as the dignitaries on stage. “As the focus country this year, we take it as a great opportunity to explore new areas in the historic cooperation in literature between India and Russia; moreover, both countries are united by our love of stories and belief in their power to transform lives,” said Mr. Denis Alipov, stressing on the longstanding literary, economic, scientific, educational and cultural partnership between India and Russia.

 

New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 will see participation from various countries across the globe like New Zealand, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, UAE, Israel, Nepal, Japan, Hong Kong, Poland, Egypt, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Iran, Australia, Iran, USA, UK, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Russian Federation in different events, exhibitions and seminars.

 

Books from Russia , ‘Roos Si Aayi Kitaabein’, is a special attraction at the  foreign pavilion with many books translated in Hindi. The stand has a collection of more than 1500 books reviving the memory of the generation of 60s and 70s with the best of children books and the literary works of Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Pushkin.

 

Day 1 of New Delhi World Book Fair 2025 hosted eminent personalities like Russian writer Evgeny Vodolazkin, novelist and journalist Anuradha Roy, novelist Catherine Chidgey and New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner Mathew Ayers (moderator) Tomorrow, the fair will have sessions led by noted Indian filmmaker Prakash Jha, journalist Rubika Liyakat and renowned inspirational speaker and author, Shiv Khera.

 

Earlier in the day, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, NBT India noted  - “Children have a special place in the world of books” during the inauguration ceremony today when introducing the Children’s Pavilion, adding that the through the “Books for all” initiative, NBT, India aims at being inclusive with all its offerings, including audiobooks and publications in braille.

 

NDWBF 2024 is on from 1 to 9 February 2025 at Halls 2 to 6, Bharat Mandapam from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm. Entry is FREE for children in school uniform, for senior citizens, and for differently-abled. Tickets are available at select Metro Stations and DMRC Momentum 2.0 Delhi Saarthi app.