Delhi Book Fair 2015: Targetting young readers

Books, which form a primary and a predominant part of the publishing sector guide us through the various spheres of life. They not only impart knowledge but also help one to grow and develop, both mentally and emotionally.

So, in order to ensure the continuation of the legacy of books as well as to maintain a healthy book-reader relationship, the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan, on Saturday, marked the start of the 21st edition of the Delhi book Fair, organised by the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) in association with India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), and its concurrent event, the 17th Annual Stationary/Office Automation/Corporate Gifts Fair, at Pragati Maidan. 

The theme this year is ‘Skill Development’. The fair which will end on September 6 will project the role of national and International publishers, librarians, researchers, academicians, writers, dealers, traders, students and <g data-gr-id="28">general</g> public.

The inauguration ceremony of DBF 2015 was graced by the presence of Jitendra Singh, Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DONER), as the chief guest. Ashok Gupta, Director of DBF and president of FIP; JS Deepak, Chairman and Managing Director, ITPO; Meenakshi Singh, Officer on Special Duty; Jayanta Das, General Manager, ITPO;  participants were also present. Ashok Gupta spoke of the challenges faced by the publishing world put forth by the governmental policies and the technology revolution. He also asked for assistance by reducing the interest on loans for publishers so that they can get a little relief from GST. To this, Jitendra Singh replied, “I will support the case of the publishers.” 

He also assured that the government would take necessary steps for the betterment of the publishing industry and provide support in order to improve the literacy rate of the country. Jitendra Singh, being an avid reader and a book enthusiast shared his experiences of being associated with writing and various mediums of the literary domain. He said, “Books are a treasure forever. An author outlines its counterparts and a book outlines its author.” 

He also talked about the onset of the internet era, which is highly influencing the handwritten works. 

He said, “We are heading towards globalisation and we can make an effort towards easy transition. We should not take this as a challenge but rather as a supplementation. If we consider the long-term aspect of the handwritten work as compared to the electronic work, then the former has a longer shelf life but both mediums can definitely co-exist and create a beautiful synergy.”