Virtually everything this time

With e-books as its theme, a film festival and poetry sessions, delhi book fair has a lot to offer this year.

The Delhi Book Fair is back with its 18th edition, which is bigger and broader this year. The nine-day fair, organised by Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), which kicks off tomorrow, will see Delhi-based authors and publishers showcasing their books along with regional and international participants. The theme of the fair this year is ‘e-books’, with the organisers aiming at targeting the youth. “The theme is very relevant in today’s times. The IT savvy younger generation prefers e-books over printed ones. We also want to popularise Indian authors worldwide, and e-books are a well-known global platform for it,” says Neeraj Gupta, executive director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

HT Image

For the first time, the book fair will host a Festival of Films, where movies such as Guide, Parineeta, Slumdog Millionaire,3 Idiots along with other regional films — based on books and novels by Indian authors — will be screened. The entry to the the screenings will be free of cost and on first cum first basis. “These films have taken Indian authors to an international level. What better than screening them here,” says Rita Menon, Chairman and Managing Director of ITPO.

Another new feature this year will be a hall (Hall No 8) dedicated only for book launches and releases. “The idea is to encourage new products that support reading,” says Gupta.

Apart from the exhibit, there will be seminars on topics such as digital book market in India, literatures and values and public libraries among others.
For the comfort of the visitors, there will be snack kiosks along with a free shuttle service between the gates and the halls during the fair timings.

Schedule for Festival of Films:
Where: Shakuntalam Theatre, Pragati Maidan
Timings: 6pm onwards
September 1
Duniya Na Maine (Hindi)
September 2
Meghe Dhaka Tara (Bengali)
September 3
Guide (Hindi)
September 4
Samskara (Kannada)
September 5
Umbhartha (Marathi)
September 6
Vidheyan (Malayalam)
September 7
Slumdog Millionaire (Hindi)
September 8
Parineeta (Hindi)
September 9
3 Idiots (Hindi)