Dr Shashi Tharoor to inaugurate

01-February-2013 16:21 I

The New Delhi World Book Fair 2013 

 

National Book Trust, India, an apex body of the Ministry of Human Resource Development engaged in book promotional activities in the country is organizing New Delhi World Book Fair from 4 to 10 February 2013 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.  The Fair is being co-organized with India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), Pragati Maidan.  Dr Shashi Tharoor, Hon’ble Minister of State has kindly consented to inaugurate the Fair on 4^th February 2012, Monday, at 10.30 a.m. at Hall No. 7, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.  Dr Karan Singh, the eminent author, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations would be the Guest of Honour.  Mr François Richier, Ambassador of France for India will be the special guest on the occasion. The Fair will be opened for general public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on 4^th & 5^th February 2013 and for rest of the days, it would be opened to public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For the first time, special business hours have also been arranged from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 4^th & 5^th February 2013 where the exhibitors can have their business dealings with their trade counterparts. ITPO shall charge an entry fee of Rs. 20/- for adults and Rs. 10/- for school children.

  

General Information - This year, the Fair will be spread over an area of 45,000 sq mtr in Hall Nos.   1 – 7, 12, 12A, 14 & 18 where about 1100 exhibitors from India and abroad will display books at around 2100 stalls.  About 23 countries including China, USA, Poland, South Korea, Turkey and UNO agencies like WHO, UNESCO, among others will be displaying books in the Foreign Pavilion. There would be a fair representation of regional language publishers in Hall No.14 where about 100 participants would be showcasing their publications in all Indian regional languages. For the first time, special enclosure has been made for Government participants where Government publications would be made available.  A special enclosure for e-books has also been made in Hall No.6 where e-book publishers, developers and content providers would be showcasing their e-books and deliberating with the publishers for developing e-books. 

  

The category-wise distribution of publishers in various halls is as follows:

1)   General Publishers                              Hall No. 1 to 5

2)   S&T and Medicine                              Hall No. 6

3)   Government & e-book publishers       Hall No.6

4)   Foreign Publishers                               Hall No. 7A, B & C

5)   Hindi language publications               Hall No. 12 – 12A

6)   Social Sciences & Humanities            Hall No. 14

7)   Regional Language Publications         Hall No. 14

8)   Educational Aids, CDs, Games etc.   Hall No. 18

9)   Children & Educational books           Hall No.18

10) Souvenir shops                                    Hall No. 2-5, 7 & 18

The entry to the Book Fair would be from Gate Nos, 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 &10 and the entry tickets would be available at Gate Nos. 2, 5, 7 &10 for general public.

1.   Theme Presentation – The theme of the Fair is Indigenous Voices: Mapping India’s Folk and Tribal Literature.  The presentation will include special exhibition of books on various aspects of folk and tribal literature and culture, exhibits of art and crafts, workshops, panel discussions etc. at Hall No. 7 E.  As a part of theme presentation, the Trust has tied up with Sangeet Natak Academy for showcasing the cultural heritage of the tribal belts in country and also the folk culture which will be organized every evening from 4.30 p.m. at Lal Chowk open air theatre.

2.   Children & Youth Pavilion – This exclusive pavilion for children and youth will host a range of activities for promotion of books and reading like panel     discussions, skits, school librarian meet and interaction with sports icons etc.     There would also be an Author-Illustrators Corner in the pavilion in which eminent artists and writers from various parts of the country will interact with book lovers at Hall No.18. The Children and Youth Pavilion will be inaugurated by Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble MOS (HRD) in the presence of Chairman, CBSE and Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

3.   Swami Vivekananda Pavilion – To commemorate the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Trust has tied up with AdvaitaAshram, Kolkata to have a special exhibit of original photos and books on Swami Vivekananda at Hall No.18.

4.   Literary Events – NBT is also facilitating other publishers and associations to hold their literary events in three seminar halls which are planned at Hall No. 18.  About 50 literary activities such as seminars, discussions and book release functions will be held in these halls.

New Initiatives

1.   Guest of Honour Country – This year, France is the Guest of Honour country at the New Delhi World Book Fair and as apresentation, they would be focusing on present glimpses of the industry and its writings through a large contingent of French publishers, authors and scholars. They would also engage in discussions and conversations with the Indian counterparts at the many literary programmes  andprofessional round table conferences which they have finalized to hold during the Fair.  The vibrant cultural heritage of France with its music, food as well as cinema will form a major component of French presentation.

      As a part of Bonjour India, the bureau of for the International Promotion of French           Books (BIEF), the Embassy of France in Indiaand the Institut of Francais  en inde are displaying close to 2000 French titles in the French Pavilion in Hall No.7C and             a host of literary events are scheduled on all seven days at Pragati Maidan.  Book launches, workshops and encounters with acclaimed authors such as TaharBen Jelloun, Kènizè Mourad   Dominique Siguad will be a part of their presentation.            The French presentation will also showcase various aspects of French culture through an exhibition entitled “France Remains”, a collection of 15 panels           on the presence of French heritage inIndia and a serious of film screening..          

2.   Author Corners – For the first time, the Trust has initiated to have four Author    Corners in various halls where more than 75 English, Hindi and other Indian      languages eminent authors and other literary personalities will have reading      sessions of their works and also interact with their readers. The        Author Corners have been planned in Hall No. 1A, 1R, 2 – 5, 12A  - 12 and 18.

3.   Book Art – NBT in association with the College of Art, Delhi will put a first-ever show of Book Art in India at the Fair.  A collective exhibition of Book art installations is being exhibited at the Foyer of Hall no. 7. These installations can      be interpreted as an expression of common desire to find reading material and the idea of reading permeating all nook and corners of human life.

4.   Cosplay – NBT in association with Khublei (an organization engaged in     literary activities) and the Tadpole Repertory Group is organizingCosplay competition on 8^th & 9^th February 2013 in Hall No.18 where participants would don costumes and accessories to represent literary characters and enact the role for a few minutes.  The event will provide a wonderful opportunity for children to get into the spirit of their favouritebooks by stepping inside the skin of fictional characters.

New Initiative B2B Activities

 1.   Rights Table – As an initiative to offer B2B match-making sessions between the publishers, an attempt has been made for the first time to have the New Delhi Rights Table on 2^nd & 3^rd February 2013 at Lounge ‘A’ near Gate No. 1 at Pragati Maidan. This Rights Table attempts to bring together publishers, writers, agents,       translators and editors from India and abroad at a forum to network and explore business opportunities together. The unique format will enable participants to book their own rights table, meet each-other,  present their products and ideas and also to tentatively finalize their interests and agreements for transfer of translations and other subsidiary rights of books available in English, Hindi and other regional languages.

2.   CEO Speak – CEO speak over Chairman’s Breakfast is a first-of-its-kind forum of CEOs and Senior Executives of the Indian publishing industry, being organized   by NBT jointly with FICCI on the occasion of New Delhi World Book Fair 2013.  The forum aims to discuss and share common issues and concerns to evolve a composite agenda of Indian publishing.  The inaugural function is scheduled on 5^thFebruary 2013 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hotel, the Royal Plaza, Ashoka Road,             New Delhi.  Dr Shashi Tharoor, the eminent author and Minister of State would be delivering the key-note address and also interact with the participants.

  RNM/RS