DELHI CROWNED WORLD BOOK CAPITAL
Delhi has been conferred
the title of World Book Capital for the year 2003-04 by the UNESCO
and the International Publishers Association (IPA). Delhi is the
third city after Alexandria and Madrid to be crowned as World
Book Capital.
The conferment
of the title endorses the prominent position of Delhi and India
in the world of book publishing. With 70,000 book publishing potential
per year in 24 languages, India is the sixth nation in terms of
number of books published in the world.
The National
Book Trust (NBT) is the nodal agency for all promotional activities
to mark Delhi’s becoming the World Book Capital, which will continue
till 22nd April 2004.
A number of governmental
and private organisations including the Publications Division,
Sahitya Akademi, the Federation of Indian Publishers, FICCI and
CII are joining hands with the NBT to undertake special activities
during this period for promotion of book reading habit. Special
attention would be paid on books for children. The activities
planned include a large number of books exhibitions, opening of
outlets in universities, seminars, book fairs, author – reader
meetings, opening of a book mall in Pragati Maidan and stalls
at other prominent public places.
