The Pune Book Festival organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) unfolded on December 14 with over 600 book stalls offering a diverse literary palette. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, the festival is set to be held until December 22 at Ferguson College grounds. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Celebrating World, Cultures and Connections’, with an aim at inculcating a reading culture, features books from both Indian and global languages.
Yuvraj Malik, director of NBT mentions how the trust has been working for the last 67 years to promote book-reading culture in the country. “The idea behind the theme is to connect the younger generation with the power of reading and help them become better citizens. It also aims at inspiring ways we can integrate books into our lives, whether they are for pleasure or empowerment. Through this festival, we are working to seamlessly blend and promote art, literature and culture where all these dimensions can flourish,” he added further.
The festival has incorporated several unique features and events to its itinerary this year. It houses a literature festival which will be held from December 20 to 22 with round-the-clock sessions by speakers from diverse areas of specialisation. Additionally, the fest also comprises a literary stage for literary events and book releases where publishers can have discussions around their books. A Children’s Film Festival has also been integrated into the fest for children to enjoy and connect their learnings through films. “The purpose of the film festival is to connect our children with the power of visual representation from book to screen and screen to book. The movies showcased are acclaimed films from all over the world. We have previously hosted this film festival in Lucknow and Ahmedabad, and this year we are glad to launch this festival in Pune,” says Malik.
While the children’s Film Festival is an innovative addition, the Pune Book Festival remains an exciting venue for publishers and exhibitors from across the country.
One of them is Mohan Murari Sharma, an experienced publisher from Agra, representing Nikhil Publishers. Sharma, who has participated in the festival for the first time, has brought 1,000 books in four languages — Sanskrit, Hindi, English, and Marathi — suitable for all age groups. “I see this as a golden opportunity to showcase our work. I have heard good things about this festival,” he said.
Another prominent participant is Virendra Tiwari, owner of Shivalik Prakashan from Delhi, who specialises in books on arts, archaeology and philosophy. Tiwari, attending the festival for the second time, highlighted its growing scale. “This year the festival is much larger. Last year there were only 200 stalls. I had an excellent experience then, which is why I decided to return,” he said.
Adding a touch of innovation to the event is Siva Kumar, representing Shravya Educational Aids from Hyderabad. His stall features scientific games and educational science kits, with several new additions introduced this year.
Such diversity in participating exhibitors is sure to make the Pune Book Festival a rich and enriching experience for every book lover. Alefiyah Pata, a student of SNDT College said how “the atmosphere this time feels entirely different.” From manga and novels to self-help books, Alefiyah observed that the festival gives something for every type of book lover. “There’s an incredible spectrum of genres—truly a paradise for readers,” she added. Her enthusiasm reflects the growing appeal of the festival among younger audiences.
“Just the volume and diversity of books present at the venue is baffling. I have noticed almost all the books that are on my reading list from diverse topics like philosophy, history, politics and fiction. This festival is also a great opportunity to hear discussions among speakers and authors,” says Drumil Modi, a college student attending the event.
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