NEW DELHI: World Book Fair this year goes beyond literature, serving as a platform for various countries to showcase their heritage, promote tourism and higher education, while also fostering cultural connections.
Countries from around the world are participating, offering a glimpse into their rich literary traditions and cultural heritage.
An organisation from Abu Dhabi –The Muslim Council of Elders— is also drawing upon this opportunity to dispel myths about Islam through Islamic literature and spread a message of oneness.The World Book Fair being held at Pragati Maidan is showcasing an eclectic array of cultures through its diverse stalls.
The main highlight is the display organised by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage Commission from Saudi Arabia, which is attracting a steady stream of visitors. The stall features various attractions such as a photo booth and a traditional Saudi Majlis sofa.
The entire setup is distinguished by its black theme, creating a unique and eye-catching appearance. People are queuing up to have their photos taken in the LED room. Additionally, numerous replicas of historical artifacts were on display.
“We wanted to show how the living room used to be in Saudi Arabia, which is also known as ‘Majlis’. We have books which tell you about the history and culture of Saudi Arabia and there are also books by famous Saudi writers. Here we have set up some replicas of historical artefacts to showcase our history,” said Hamid, who is from Hertiage Commission. The Commission is a Saudi govt body which is responsible for advancing and preserving the heritage sector in the Kingdom
On being asked about the thought behind the unique concept, Hamid said: “We wanted to give experience about Saudi culture not just through books but also through different setups. We are promoting tourism and our culture as well. We are giving a glimpse of our country.”
Meanwhile, Cervantes Institute, a non-profit organisation run by the Spanish govt, has installed a small kiosk to promote the courses provided by it.
“We have assembled this stall to promote the courses we are offering. Apart from that, we are promoting the cultural events which take place in our institute. We are informing people about our library service. We have put up books that are part of our courses,” said Yamini, who is a student of the institute.
Yamini, who is manning the stall for the institute, feels the book fair provides a good opportunity to meet prospective students.
“Most of the visitors here are youngsters, who are still exploring various fields and we inform them about our courses. We are receiving a lot of inquiries from students,” she added.
Right next to Cervantes stall, there is a modest booth set up by the Austrian embassy. There are pamphlets and brochures laid on the table. A woman from the embassy said she is receiving 50-60 inquiries daily for the courses and it is the best platform to meet students.
“We are informing youth and students about our courses and the colleges. Students and parents are showing a great interest. We are expecting more rush on the weekends,” she added.
The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) is a major calendar event in the publishing world. NDWBF 2024 is being held from 10 to 18 February 2024 in newly constructed Halls 1-5 at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The Fair is organised by National Book Trust, India (under the ministry of education, govt of India).
Hundreds of people are visiting the world book fair, some have travelled from different states just to explore the festival of books.
Harnas Singh (59) has come from Punjab’s Firozpur, especially for the world book fair. He was skimming through classics like Anna Karenina at a stall offering Russian books.
“I am a book geek. I love to read Russian classics. I have come here to explore books from Punjab. This is my first time at this fair. I am planning to buy a lot of books,” Singh said.
Visitors appeared impressed with the translated books. “I love to read but I am not that fluent in English so translated books provide a great opportunity to readers like us,” said Saroj (47).
Muslim Council of Elders, which is an independent international organisation that was established on July 18, 2014, to promote peace, has also set up a big stall to teach people about the teachings of Islam and spread peace. The literature at the booth is about the teachings of Islam and current developments. The majority of books here are in Arabic and English. However, there are a few books translated in Hindi as well.
Meanwhile, the Iranian stall focuses on children’s story books and those which aim to educate the youngsters about morality and the concept of good and bad. “Children all around the world think similarly. It is great to have a cultural link. This helps in building bridges,” said Iranian publisher Ali Reza Sobhani.