The 31st Edition of The Mega ‘World Book Fair 2023’ Concludes Successfully With Over 2 Million Visitors

EE News Desk Mar 06, 2023

The 31st edition of the mega ‘World Book Fair 2023’ concluded with over two million visitors in the national capital on Sunday. It was organised by the National Book Trust of India (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India in collaboration with the India Trade Fair Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, New Delhi World Book Fair was compelled to be held online over the last few years. This New Delhi World Book Fair was organised after two years due to the pandemic.

A total number of 40 countries participated in this mega event. The theme of the book fair was based on “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” in view of the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India.

France had been invited to this New Delhi World Book Fair ‘23 as the country of honour. 16 French authors participated in this book fair including famous French writer, Annie Ernaux, Noble Prize winner for literature. She visited New Delhi Book Fair on the day of its inauguration on 25th February.

A total number of 800 publishers from all over the world participated in the book fair. There were a total number of 2000 book stalls crafted. During this course of the week-long convention, 600 programmes of workshops, symposia, seminars, book releases, author-publisher introductions, cultural programmes, international events, and introductions of young writers and publishers were organised at the stalls, halls, conference halls and auditoriums. Even the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the promotion of young entrepreneurs was implemented in the event wherein young authors and publishers were duly promoted as per the Government of India’s vision.

There were specified pavilions like G20 Pavilion, Foreign Pavilion, NEP Pavilion, Theme Pavilion, and Children’s Pavilion.

New Delhi World Book Fair was first held in the year 1972 and it was inaugurated by the then-President of India, Late Varah Giri Venkat Giri commonly known as V V Giri. The success of the 1st World Book Fair held in Delhi inspired the idea of launching and holding book fairs in several other parts of the country. Further, the book fair started being organised in the metropolitan city of Kolkata, where the first International Kolkata Book fair (formerly known as the Calcutta Book Fair) was held in 1976.

In recent days New Delhi World Book Fair is one of the biggest literary events in the world with a total visitor count of over two million people from all over the world. People participated in this event with a volume worth in crores.