24th edition of “New Delhi World Book Fair” to be held from 9-10
January, 2016.
Vananchal
News Network
New
Delhi: Minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated
the 24th edition of “New Delhi World Book Fair-2016” at Pragati
Maidan on Saturday; which to be held from 9-10 January, 2016. Welcoming China
as the Guest of Honour country, she said, “We believe in Athithi Devo Bhavaa and we worship the guests. We hope that the Chinese
will feel at home in India”.
Talking about the India-China relationship since
ancient times, she said that there is a mention of Chinese silk dress in Arthashastra which shows how Indian
history finds resonance of relationship with China. She hoped that both the
countries will not only exchange culture and but also knowledge and strengthen
ties. The Fair is being organized by the National Book Trust, India in
collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation.
Irani
appreciated efforts undertaken by the NBT to bring out 16 new titles under the
Navlekhan series and hoped that NBT would publish books in 22 major Indian
languages. She also said that the children from various states of India
including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Manipur, Assam among others with select
photographers would be sent as shodh
yatris to foreign countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia
and their memoir will be published in the form of books. She also appreciated that for the school
children, senior citizens and people with special needs, the entry to the book
fair is free. She also said that the children’s pavilion will attract more and
more children.
At this
occasion, Sun Shoushan, Vice Minister, SAPPFRT, China said that New Delhi World
Book Fair-2016 has set up an important platform for the cultural exchanges and
mutual understanding all of the world. As Guest of Honour country we are
pleased to get together with the publishers of India. He remarked that the
publishing exchanges between china and India have played an important role in
cementing the relationships between peoples and promoting cultural exchanges.
NBT
Chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma said that on the lines of inspiration from Minister
of Human Resource Development, the Trust has come up with a new Navlekhan
series for young writers under the age of forty and has brought out 16 new
titles. He also informed that the theme pavilion will display books beginning
from bhoj patra to ebooks and will
also display ancient scripts.
ITPO CMD
L C Goyal hoped that the New Delhi World
Book Fair will go a long way in disseminating the culture of India. Liu Zhenyou,
eminent Chinese author; Le Yucheng, Chinese Ambassador to India and VVInay
Sheel Oberoi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education China are also in pavilion.
(PRESS RELEASE)
