The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair, organised by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education, is underway with an unprecedented scale and ambition at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Featuring over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries, 600+ events, and 1,000+ speakers-- and with free entry for the first time- the fair is is drawing more than two million readers.
Themed Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @ 75, this edition also highlights Qatar as the Guest of Honour Country and Spain as the Focus Country.
In a wide-ranging conversation, OneIndia’s Pankaj Mishra speaks to Colonel Yuvraj Malik, Director of National Book Trust, India and CEO of the New Delhi World Book Fair, on why the event matters, what young readers can expect, and how reading culture can be reinvigorated in India.
Watch.
#WorldBookFair #NewDelhiWorldBookFair #ReadingCulture #BooksAndIdeas #IndiaAt75 #Literature #BookLovers #OneIndia
~HT.318~PR.152~ED.103~
Themed Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @ 75, this edition also highlights Qatar as the Guest of Honour Country and Spain as the Focus Country.
In a wide-ranging conversation, OneIndia’s Pankaj Mishra speaks to Colonel Yuvraj Malik, Director of National Book Trust, India and CEO of the New Delhi World Book Fair, on why the event matters, what young readers can expect, and how reading culture can be reinvigorated in India.
Watch.
#WorldBookFair #NewDelhiWorldBookFair #ReadingCulture #BooksAndIdeas #IndiaAt75 #Literature #BookLovers #OneIndia
~HT.318~PR.152~ED.103~
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NewsTranscript
00:00A book on wheel in our buses, but books have to reach her hat a kitab, every hand has to hold a book.
00:06So that is our mission and we are working to make India read.
00:10We were shooting at the Kilag hut in Allahabad, Prayagraj now, and there we met a girl.
00:16She was part of the nomad family who keep travelling here and there and selling balloons.
00:21And when I asked her at the end of the interview that what does she want to do,
00:25she mentioned books.
00:28She said, I want to read books.
00:30And she specifically mentioned books in my hand and not balloons.
00:33How do you think that NBT, in collaboration with maybe private players,
00:41make sure that even if those kids who are moving, who are part of the nomad family,
00:48they can be given the opportunity to read and read more.
00:52Every school who sent us, we sent 25,000 rupees books free of course to the institute without any documentation.
00:58Okay, from the NBT's side?
01:00From NBT's side.
01:01Then other people, like we are developing libraries right now in UP, around 20,000 libraries are coming.
01:07One panchat will have one library.
01:09Mindset of holding an iPhone or a smartphone in your hand as a status symbol, it has to change.
01:13A book in hand has to be a status symbol.
01:14We have to start gifting books, not bookies.
01:17I remember my father telling me of saying in Hindi always,
01:21What special message do you have for our listeners to come and visit this place?
01:27It's only words and words that all I have to take your heart away.
01:57This famous song from Bee Gees and the cover by Boyzone did take away hearts of many,
02:06not just because of its lyrics, not just because of its music, but also because of the theme, words.
02:13And that was the name of the album also.
02:16Sitting here today at Bharat Mandapam, amid the sea of words, at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair,
02:24it's an immense privilege to be talking to Colonel Yubaraj Malik,
02:30who is the Director of National Book Trust and the CEO of New Delhi World Book Fair.
02:38Colonel Malik, thank you so much for speaking to one of you.
02:40It's a pleasure to be here.
02:43This book fair, as far as I remember, and the song that I mentioned in the beginning,
02:48reminds me of my college days back in the 2000s.
02:52And a book fair at Pragati Maidan, now Bharat Mandapam, was a regular feature.
02:58What is the speciality this time around for the 53rd edition?
03:03New Delhi World Book Fair is always a special feature and the most awaited event of the year.
03:07The new year starts with the festivity of words, books, as you said,
03:11and New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 has come back with a new festivity,
03:16with a new theme of Indian military history, valor and wisdom.
03:20This is the main theme of the festival where we are celebrating this book fair
03:23and documenting, acknowledging and celebrating the military history in the form of books,
03:29literature, group discussions, book release functions, exhibitions,
03:33and of course, a lot of documentaries that we are playing out here.
03:36The idea of this complete process is to bring in the forefront the military history.
03:42That's a very important segment of our literary heritage.
03:45And theme has been valor and wisdom.
03:47So, we are celebrating valor and wisdom with words and books.
03:50And another important part of this book fair this year is that this is the first time
03:54in the history of book fair.
03:56This book fair has become ticket free to ensure that we have a large participation,
04:01bringing our generation back to the power of books and to the world of literature.
04:06Yeah, absolutely.
04:08Colonel Malik, I can't help but ask you this personal question as we move ahead also.
04:13Military history and you being an active serving member of the Indian Armed Forces,
04:19how does it touch you personally, first of all?
04:23And secondly, military's history, what was the need to bring it to the fore now?
04:29See, this is a very important phase in any country's life.
04:32We are in Amrit Kal, we are looking forward to become a developed nation by 2047.
04:37So, what kind of heroes we will have?
04:39Who will be our icons?
04:40Whom will we celebrate?
04:41Who will inspire us?
04:42So, I think since 1947 we had war in 47, 48, 62, 65, 71, 99 and recently Operation Sindur.
04:51This complete lineage of military contribution need to be acknowledged.
04:55And our armed forces has played a very important role in nation building with their sacrifices,
05:00with their, you know, valor, with their stories of courage.
05:04And if we bring out this in the forefront, I am sure our younger generation will connect
05:08with their heroes, will get inspired from their heroic stories.
05:12And most importantly, this complete segment, which is a sideline concept so far.
05:17Now this has come in the forefront, now people think this is an important stream of literature.
05:22And inspired by real-time heroes.
05:25And seeing the response in all these sessions and book release events.
05:28So, I feel glad that I am able to bring younger generation to know who gave their all for their today.
05:35Absolutely. And wielding a weapon and also wielding a pen, you are seeing best of both the worlds there in military itself.
05:44A lot of writers also are coming from the armed forces background, active, serving also and retired as well.
05:50Do you believe that books and the collation of the events as part of history is very important to keep the lineage and the courage alive?
06:00See, what we are, whom do we call civilization?
06:04We know that we are a civilization only because of the records that we have, only because of the books that we have.
06:09Only the documented proofs tells you how rich you were.
06:12So, if we do not document our history today, there will be a gap in the history.
06:16And we will have to read a distorted history, a fabricated history.
06:20It's high time when things are happening, we document them.
06:23And we start developing a culture of creating a platform for that.
06:26So, that's the whole idea.
06:28And if you look in Indian philosophy of war, we never have a philosophy of war.
06:32We have a philosophy of youth that we call dharmi youth.
06:37That is driven by our karma.
06:39And we don't fight war to win and dominate.
06:41India dominates by the power of books, literature, words and wisdom.
06:45So, we fight war for peace.
06:47So, that is the whole message that we want to give to the world.
06:49Profound, Profound, Colonel Malik, I would say.
06:52One important aspect that has come out is Qatar is the guest of honor country and Spain as the focus country.
06:59These two countries, any specific reason?
07:02Yeah, of course.
07:02We are a lot of countries participating.
07:05This year, we have more than 35 countries participating into our book fair.
07:08Qatar is our guest of honor country.
07:10They have brought a large delegation of authors, writers, scholars, a lot of media personnel and also cultural artists are performing here.
07:19We have a beautiful stand curated by them in their architectural flavor.
07:23We have their craft, their cuisine out there.
07:26We see their calligraphy.
07:28So, idea is to bring people to people closer.
07:30Idea is to bring country to country closer.
07:32And it's part of book diplomacy that we have.
07:35Anything around that.
07:36And all these things definitely help Indian diaspora also to understand other part of the world.
07:41Similarly, Spain also brought a big delegation.
07:44Japan has brought a delegation of more than 25 people.
07:46France has brought a delegation.
07:47So, more than 100 authors from other countries are integrating through the power of words that as you have mentioned earlier.
07:54And we do the same thing.
07:56India also participate in other book fairs as guest of honor country.
07:59Recently, we did in Russia.
08:00Next year, we are going to Colombia to showcase.
08:02So, these are part of cultural and literary exchange programs.
08:06And it's part of the protocol between two nations.
08:08And I'm glad we get to see the world through these pavilions.
08:11Absolutely.
08:12And what a better option than this demonstrating the soft power of India that you also mentioned about knowledge and peace.
08:20When we were coming here to speak to you for this podcast, we saw lots of children and young attendees here.
08:27What is special for them here?
08:29And what can they expect?
08:31See, children come with a lot of dreams in their eyes, a lot of aspirations, a lot of expectations.
08:35So, to keep in that mind, we have created a new pavilion, hall number 6, only and exclusively for the children.
08:42We have a big kids express segment in that, in which they can have a lot of competitions, events, creative activities and other events on the sideline of the pavilion.
08:52And they can express themselves in all the way they want.
08:55It will definitely treat to see the children.
08:58And not only children, their parents are also sitting and doing the same thing at this age.
09:01Right.
09:01So, that's one thing.
09:02Secondly, we have brought out a special Arashti Epustakale Corner, which they can go and scan and even you can scan at your home.
09:10And that will help you to get 6,000 e-books free, of course, in your mobile, laptop or iPad.
09:16Wow.
09:16That's another initiative to make our younger generation feel because you should have both the options.
09:21Physical books, of course, more than 1,000 publishers on display with 3,000 stalls.
09:25But at the same time, e-books, audio books.
09:28Right.
09:28Changing with time.
09:29That's catching fascination.
09:31And especially the weapon display by our armed forces.
09:34Yes.
09:35So many selfie points and military theme that they can see.
09:39So, all together is a great festivity, culture pavilion that we have, Ampitheater.
09:43A lot of artists are performing.
09:45Right.
09:45So, I feel the book fair is not just a book fair around books.
09:49It's a book festival with festivity for the entire family.
09:52So, it has become a family event.
09:54So, entire families are coming.
09:55Right.
09:56All are enjoying things around them.
09:58And it's a very, very soothing sign to see that we are able to see that book culture is reviving.
10:05Absolutely.
10:06Noom, before we move ahead, a candid confession.
10:09I must bring my family also here to show them, you know, how fascinating the gathering here is.
10:15Coming to NBT, the National Book Trust, its role in promoting reading habits, its role in telling the world that India, be it New Delhi or be it the whole country,
10:30is not just limiting itself to its own literature, but also welcoming the world's work done.
10:37How big is the role from the NBT side here?
10:40See, last almost seven decades, National Book Trust India has been working for the promotion of books and especially publishing sector.
10:47And 60 plus languages that we publish, we translate even all tribal languages.
10:53The idea is to take content from one section to the other part of the society.
10:57And it includes not only India, but abroad also.
11:00So, we have a large number of publications which have been borrowed with copyright from other countries.
11:04And similarly, our content has gone into other UN languages.
11:09Through the power of translation, we are able to serve the need of society and provide the content in the language that people wants to read.
11:17Second important point is that we bring out very affordable books, which is very, very important in today's era.
11:22The books have to be affordable and we do on nominal margin basis that we do.
11:27Then providing accessibility.
11:28We have book fair like this across the country in all states and capitals.
11:33And where we can't have book fair, we have book exhibitions.
11:35Where we can't have book exhibitions, we send book on wheel in our buses.
11:39But books have to reach, every hand has to hold a book.
11:44So, that is our mission and we are working to make India read.
11:48And in the same mandate, this year we started national reading campaign in which we are documenting the best reading practices in India.
11:54So, that it can empower the academic institutions, schools, colleges, universities and they can adopt and learn from these established practices.
12:02And of course, in a way, we will not only make India read, we will also make India lead.
12:07And most importantly, to push the concept of knowledge economy that is the need of the hour.
12:13Absolutely.
12:13Before I take the final question here, since you mentioned the books on wheels and also taking, you know, Har Haathe Kitab, this particular initiative and the need for it was highlighted.
12:28I remember in 2024 when Kumbh Mila was about to start and we were shooting at the Kilaghat in Allahabad, Prayagraj now.
12:39And there we met a girl, she was part of the nomad family who keep travelling here and there and selling balloons.
12:46I still distinctly remember her name Chandni.
12:49And when I asked her at the end of the interview that what does she want to do, she mentioned books.
12:56She said, I want to read books.
12:58And she specifically mentioned books in my hand and not balloons.
13:02This particular aspect, Colonel Malik, how do you think that NBT, in collaboration with maybe private players, make sure that even if those kids who are moving, who are part of the nomad family,
13:21they can be given the opportunity to read and read more, apart from the academics that they can register maybe.
13:28I want to mention, it's a very important question you have brought out.
13:32Recently, we organized a book fair, the farthest in the last edge of the border, which is like Kupwara, Hanwara and Pulwama.
13:38Oh, okay.
13:39So, more than 8000 students participated in essay competition, debate competition and a mini book fair out there.
13:45Out of them, around 8 people, we brought to Delhi and showed them this book fair.
13:49They never dreamt in their life that they can come to Delhi and be part of the new Delhi World Book Fair, which is world largest B2C book fair.
13:55Right.
13:56This is the power, the power of communication that exists.
14:00Now, as you said, like, of course, we do receive at least 1000 requests every year where schools send us requests for free books.
14:08So, every school who send us, we send 25,000 rupees books free, of course, to that institute without any documentation.
14:15Okay, from the NBT side.
14:16From NBT side.
14:17Then, other people like we are developing libraries right now in UP around 20,000 libraries are coming.
14:23One panchart will have one library.
14:25So, that is the kind of way work is going on.
14:28We have created more than 6000 libraries in northeast states.
14:31So, we are working very aggressively on this aspect so that accessibility can be increased.
14:38And as you said, books, of course, and in our book fairs, we give the prizes as books only.
14:44We do not give any other prize, we give prize in terms of coupon, they can buy a book of their choice or we give them the books.
14:50And this mindset has to change.
14:54Mindset of holding an iPhone or a smartphone in your hand as a status symbol, it has to change.
14:58A book in hand has to be a status symbol.
15:0085 inch screen in the drawing room cannot be a status symbol.
15:03Those 100 classic books in your drawing room has to be a status symbol.
15:07We have to start gifting books, not bookies.
15:10And at least once in a month, if not once in a week, once in a month, when we go to a mall, we have to find where is that bookstore that we need to visit.
15:18If you make your generation go to the bookstore, while you go to the mall, I am telling you, bring a transformational change in the destiny of the nation.
15:27Because we are going to create a reader and a reader will become a responsible citizen, a law-abiding citizen who would love to contribute to the nation.
15:34And this is how this complete process.
15:37Last week, I heard a statement in media, Secretary of State of UK.
15:42She has mentioned that 40% decline in last 20 years in reading habits in UK and US.
15:48She named it geostrategic threat.
15:52Decline in reading is a geostrategic threat.
15:55That means we have to understand reading as an investment which will give dividends in years to come.
16:02What we will publish today will shape the mindset of the society.
16:06What we will make our generation read will decide how this generation will take decisions after 20 years.
16:11So, we are playing with a very sensitive product that is neurons of the society.
16:16We have to be very, very responsible and ensure when we shape the neurons, very, very responsibly with the power of books.
16:23Absolutely, I agree.
16:24And those young students or young parents or new parents who are watching this broadcast, I must say that books, as Karnal Malik says, and as the saying also goes, are the ever-burning lamps of accumulated wisdom, as they say.
16:40And you are right, Karnal Malik.
16:42I remember my father telling me of saying in Hindi always, ke purani kot pehno, nahi kitab khari do.
16:50He kept telling this, I still distinctly remember it.
16:54And I understand now, the more we grow, the more usage, I mean, these tabs might be there, might get developed, but books, their value remains intact and it increases all the more.
17:06Karnal Malik, final question, two more days to go.
17:10What special message do you have for our listeners to come and visit this place?
17:14Only one message I will give that this is the biggest book fair.
17:17You will have all kind of options to choose your book.
17:19This is a complete family event, absolutely ticket free.
17:23There is nothing to hassle, you have to just come as a guest.
17:26And as you said, I remember your Hindi from listening to your book.
17:29Yes, yes, yes, yes.
17:29Because books are very important to read.
17:31Because books give people a way.
17:35They give people a way.
17:36They give people a way.
17:37They give people a way.
17:38They give people a way.
17:39If you need a way, they give people a way.
17:41And they give people a way.
17:43They give people a way.
17:45And if you have a way.
17:47They give people a way.
17:49They give people a way.
17:50Yes, absolutely.
17:51If you listen to the truth, then you don't have to be friends.
17:53Yes, absolutely.
18:14And we wish you all the very best to you and your team.
18:16Thank you so much for speaking to One India.
18:18This was Colonel Yuvraj Malik speaking to One India.
18:21He is the Director of National Book Trust India and CEO of New Delhi World Book Fair.
18:27Thank you so much.
18:29It was a pleasure talking to you.
18:31Thank you so much.
18:32I'll see you next week.
18:33See you next week.
18:34See you next week.
18:36Bye-bye.
18:37Bye-bye.
18:38Bye-bye.
18:39Bye-bye.
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