Curtains on 14th Delhi Book Fair

With over 3.5 lakh footfalls over the last nine days, the fair was a hit.

Focusing on women’s writing this year, the fair had a rich stock of books by women authors. Children’s works, comics, literary and academic books also did brisk business.

“The sales were quite good and more than 140 stalls, out of the 290 that participated this year, have already booked their stalls for the coming year,” said Shakti Malik, director of DBF.

“Stalls of China, Spain, United States and Abu Dhabi attracted the attention of authors and publications. It helps in trade promotion as Indian publishers come up with requests for translation rights,” Malik explained.

Organisers also announced awards for best stalls, the criteria being the presentation, display and overall look. Among English publishers, Anand Publications and Viva Books clinched the honours, while Geeta Press, Gorakhpur, bagged the gold with Brijbasi Art and Press and Rajpal and Sons walking away with silver and bronze for the best stall awards.

NCERT message
‘Give girls their chance’ says the banner at the entrance of the NCERT stall at the Delhi Book Fair — a farewell message of enduring value. “Every effort is being made by the NCERT to emphasise the importance of women’s literacy,” said Bhoopendra Singh, the manager of the stall and assistant business manager with the Publication Department (NCERT).
Singh’s words echo in one of the books lined up on the stall’s shelves. It details the State’s prerogative to give free and compulsory education for children aged between 6 and 14 — a Fundamental Right under the Indian Constitution.
A slim volume titled ‘Kyun’ a Hindi poem by the late Kamala Bakaya, a prominent educationist, offers insight into the child’s perspective of the world. Other women achievers who share the shelf space with Bakaya are eminent names like Bhikaji Cama and Ahilya Bai.