DELHI BOOK FAIR 2009

The Federation of Indian Publishers, in collaboration with the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), a premier trade promotion agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, organised the 15th Delhi Book Fair from 29 August to 6 September 2009 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi . The Fair was inaugurated by Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Corporate Affairs and Minority Affairs. Others present on the occasion included Shri Subas Pani, Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO and Shri Jawhar Sircar, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, foreign diplomats including the Ambassador of USA and his wife and members of the visiting Chinese Publishers Delegation.

Complimenting FIP and ITPO for institutionalising a book event of international stature, Ahri Salman Khurshid, in his inaugural address, pointed out the significant role played by books in national integration by building literary bridges across the socio-cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of the country. Expressing his happiness over the considerable growth of Indian publishing sector and its integration with the global book market, he emphasized the need for some of the eminent Indian authors publishing in English language to consider publishing in India rather than overseas. This would eliminate the waiting time for such books to reach booklovers in India , he said. He appealed to the publishers to bring out books which are constructive, secular and progressive in outlook as books have a significant role in shaping the generation next.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jawhar Sircar disclosed that the Prime Minister had set up an Advisory Committee for National Library for compilation and digitalisation of a large number of books. He said about 90,000 books published every year in India are sent to the National Library. As a result of the process of digitalising and modernising the cataloging process, many such books lying unattended in recent months will be made available to readers. It was estimated that as part of the modernisation process it would take about two and a half years to have all books in the National Library in the digital format.

Earlier, in his his welcome address, Dr. Subas Pani highlighted the salient features of Delhi Book Fair. He disclosed that ITPO was planning to organise its first book fair abroad, in USA ( California ), sometime next year, especially for the Indian diaspora.

In his address, Shri R.C. Govil, President, FIP, said apart from the professional activities of publishers, the main objective of the Fair is to create awareness about the importance of books, promote reading habit amongst children and adults and provide a creative forum for interaction among authors, publishers and readers. The post-libralisation era has motivated both young and old to do more reading. This is perhaps one of the best ways to gain knowledge. Thus, the book reading society is growing both in terms of number and variety of books read. The Fair serves that knowledge seeking society with finesse. It is heartening that our literacy rate has gone up to 66% which gives us a very great number of literate public, he added.

Shri Govil said one thing which not only the publishers but also the authors community and book-lovers of India feel is that our books do not reach the rural areas. There are no book shops and book stalls there. So, for our reading public which is sprinkled all over the country, the only way to make books reach them is by post. But, we are afraid, the postal rates for books have only very negligible concession. We have made repeated requests to the Government of India that for the benefit of people in rural areas, the postal rates for sending books should be just minimal. If this one problem is solved, the reading public will increase manifold immediately.

Shri Govil said a special Panel Discussion on Ban on Shri Jaswant Singh's Book ‘JINNAH: INDIA – PARTITION – INDEPENDENCE ' with distinguished personalities as Panelists had been organised by the Federation during the Delhi Book Fair. He said the ban on Shri Jaswant Singh's book is a negation of our belief in Freedom to Publish, and Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Thought and FIP opposed the ban on this book.

The theme of the Fair this year was “Literature from North-East” and for this a Theme Pavilion was put up with a large number of posters, photographs and biodatas of some renowned authors of the North-East region. A representative selection of books written by these authors was also displayed at the Theme Pavilion for the visitors to browse.

About 230 publishers in 600 stalls participated in the Fair.The Fair also witnessed the participation of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair Authority, China , Iran , Pakistan and USA . It is hoped that the Fair would give a fillip to enhance international collaboration in publishing and business transactions.

The Fair provided a unique platform for business to business transactions, establishing new contacts, entering into co-publishing arrangements, translation and copyright arrangements, while providing an opportunity to meet national and international publishers.

To make the event more meaningful, a number of conferences, seminars, buyer-seller meets, book releases, book launches, meet the author get togethers arranged by leading publishers and a host of cultural activities were also organised. The Federation also gave Awards for Excellence in Book Production in respect of 78 titles of 47 publishers .

The Fair drew a big response and was a grant success with more than three lakhs visitors, book lovers, booksellers, buyers from India and abroad, librarians, academicians and researchers having visited the Fair. The Fair was extensively covered in both the electronic and print media.