New Delhi: More than 1,100 exhibitors from 23
countries will flock to the Pragati Maidan in the capital for the
New Delhi World Book Fair 2013 during Feb 4-10.
The fair will be in 2,100 vends spread across 45,000 square metres
of tastefully decorated display space to exhibit and trade in
books.
One of the biggest book extravaganzas presented by the country's
apex publishing body, the National Book Trust (NBT), the fair will
be inaugurated by Minister of State for Human Resource Development
Shashi Tharoor, who will deliver the keynote address in the
presence of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) president
Karan Singh, MP, and French ambassador Francois Richier, the NBT
said.
The theme presentation of the festival will be "Indigenous Voices:
Mapping India's Folk and Tribal Literature". The fair will include
special exhibition of books on various aspects of folk and tribal
literature, culture, exhibits of art and crafts, workshops and
panel discussions.
As part of the theme presentation, the trust has tied up with the
Sangeet Natak Akademi to showcase the cultural heritage of the
country's tribal areas with performances every evening at the Lal
Chowk Open Air Theatre.
France will the guest country of honour with focus on "its
publishing industry and its contemporary literature through a
large contingent of publishers, authors and scholars".
Discussions, conversations, interactions with the country's
publishing fraternity, professional roundtables for rights and
business, food, music and culture will be at the core of French
representation in India.
The bureau of the International Promotion of French Books, the
Festival of India in France, Bonjour, and the Institute of Francais
en Inde are displaying close to 2,000 French titles. The French
literary sessions will host leading writers like Tahar ben Jelloun,
Kenize Murad and Dominique Siguad.
An exhibition, "French Remains", will showcase various aspects of
French colonial culture with 15 panels on the French presence in
India. The participating countries include nations like China, the
US, Poland, South Korea, Turkey and United Nations agencies.
The regional participation will include 100 language publishers.
Special enclosures have been set up for government participation
and e-books. Digital publishing will be in focus with
deliberations and development of e-books.
The NBT, in association with the College of Art, will mount a
collective exhibition on Book Art. The Trust, in association with
Khublei, an organisation engaged in literary activities, and the
Tadpole Repertory will host a cosplay competition Feb 8-9 where
young participants will dress up as their favourite literary
characters and enact them.
A pavilion exclusively for youth and children will draw
schoolchildren with a variety of events, including an
authors-illustrators' corner. The pavilion will be inaugurated by
Minister of State for Human Resource Development Jitin Prasada.
The NBT has also tied up with the Kolkata-based Advaita Ashram to
celebrate the 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda at the fair.
A new B2B initiative, Rights Table, will offer match-making
sessions at Pragati Maidan to bring together publishers, writers,
agents, translators and editors from India and abroad at a forum
to network and explore business opportunities together.
A session, CEO Speak, a first of its kind forum of CEOs and senior
executives of the Indian publishing industry, will be organised by
the NBT with FICCI to "share common issues and concerns to evolve
a composite agenda for Indian publishing.
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