Indian military history central theme of World Book Fair
The 53rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) opened at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday with a first of its kind central theme, ‘Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75’, placing the courage, sacrifice and nation building role of the Indian Armed Forces at the heart of the country’s largest literary event.
Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the NDWBF 2026 in the presence of Qatar’s Minister of Culture H.E. Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Al Thani and Spain’s Minister of Culture H.E. Ernest Urtasun Domenech, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Education and National Book Trust (NBT).
Pradhan said, “NDWBF 2026, the world’s largest B2C book fair, is not just a marketplace of books but a grand celebration of India’s vibrant reading culture and exchange of ideas.” He added that this year’s theme and international participation from Qatar and Spain have enhanced the Fair’s global significance.
The immersive Theme Pavilion, inspired by the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, showcases over 500 books along with curated exhibits, posters, documentaries and installations. Visitors can view replicas of the Arjun Tank, INS Vikrant and LCA Tejas, tributes to 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, sessions tracing major wars and military operations from Budgaon 1947 to Operation Sindoor.
Pradhan also released the book “The Saga of Kudopali: The Untold Story of 1857” in multiple Indian languages and Spanish, calling it “a tribute to Veer Surendra Sai ji and the martyrs of Kudopali, while strengthening India’s multilingual and global dialogue.”
Highlighting the international dimension of the fair, Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun Domenech said the event offers “a valuable platform to promote Spanish literature in India.” Qatar’s Minister of Culture noted that culture and knowledge are “foundations of people to people ties and nation building.”
The fair also features special exhibitions marking 150 years of Vande Mataram and celebrating the life and legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year, Qatar is the Guest of Honour Country, while Spain is the Focus Country.
NDWBF 2026 will run from January 10 to 18 with free entry. It brings together over 1,000 publishers from more than 35 countries and is expected to attract over two million visitors. Around 600 literary events with nearly 1,000 speakers are scheduled. The international pavilion will host book launches, poetry readings, discussions on AI, gaming, migration and heritage, cultural performances and extensive children’s activities, reaffirming the fair’s position as a major global platform for books, ideas and dialogue.
