‘Reading culture must build a knowledge-driven generation’ — Pradhan

NEW DELHI: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday inaugurated the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, calling it a global confluence of ideas and a celebration of India’s vibrant reading culture, as the world’s largest B2C book fair opened at Bharat Mandapam with free public entry for the first time.

Pradhan also released The Saga of Kudopali: The Unsung Story of 1857 in nine Indian languages and Spanish, expanding the book’s reach to 13 languages. The work highlights lesser-known episodes of the freedom struggle in Sambalpur and pays tribute to Veer Surendra Sai and the martyrs of Kudopali. A video presentation on the book was screened during the event.

Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said the fair’s theme — Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75 — and the participation of guest countries Qatar and Spain have added depth to the cultural and literary engagement. He said the multilingual expansion of The Saga of Kudopali strengthens India’s tradition of linguistic diversity while fostering global dialogue.

The minister said the national reading movement has been energised under the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India, where knowledge and critical thinking form the foundation of nation-building. He congratulated the National Book Trust for organising the event and said the fair was infusing fresh momentum into India’s reading ecosystem through books and dialogue.

Spain’s culture minister Ernest Urtasun Domènech said the fair marked an important moment during the Spain–India Dual Year 2026, offering a platform to promote Spanish writers in India amid growing interest in Spanish language and literature. He recalled the historic literary links between Juan Ramón Jiménez and Rabindranath Tagore.

Qatar’s culture minister Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani said his country’s participation reflected the strength of bilateral ties and reaffirmed culture and knowledge as pillars of people-to-people engagement and nation-building.

The New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 is being organised by the National Book Trust under the education ministry, with the India Trade Promotion Organisation as co-organiser. The nine-day event, running from January 10 to 18, brings together more than 1,000 publishers from over 35 countries, features 600-plus events with over 1,000 speakers, and is expected to draw more than two million visitors.

This year’s fair includes special exhibitions marking 150 years of Vande Mataram and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The centrepiece is the Theme Pavilion, a 1,000-square-metre immersive space on Indian military history, featuring over 500 books, curated exhibits, documentaries and installations. Replicas of the Arjun tank, INS Vikrant and LCA Tejas, tributes to Param Vir Chakra awardees, and sessions on key military operations form the core attractions.