National Book Trust, India (under the Ministry of Education, Government of India) will hold the second edition of Shillong Book Fair from October 5 to 13 at the State Central Library complex here. The book fair will be inaugurated by Governor C H Vijayashankar.
The Book Fair is open from 11 am to 7 pm daily from October 5 to 13 and entry for all visitors is free. There will be 10 per cent discount on books.
Earlier today, a press conference was held at the Shillong Press Club to formally announce the event. It was addressed by Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Principal Secretary, Arts and Culture Department, and Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust-India.
Kharkongor commended the efforts of NBT-India in organising the book fair, especially in promoting a culture of reading in today’s screen-dominated times. He praised the inclusion of free career counseling sessions at the fair for the youth, which he believes will motivate young people to aspire for civil services and other national endeavors.
Malik emphasised that following last year’s overwhelming success, the Shillong Book Fair has now become an annual calendar event. This year’s fair boasts an increased number of exhibitor stalls and special skill-based activities for students and young adults.
He highlighted the fair’s mission to introduce the younger generation to the world of books and storytelling, steering them away from excessive gadget use.
Malik also drew attention to the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya stall, a digital library initiative where fairgoers can download the application and access more than 1,000 free books and educational resources in various Indian languages.
This week-long celebration of books and culture will feature around 100 stalls, showcasing a wide variety of books in different Indian languages and genres.
Booklovers can browse and buy books from many publishers at the book fair such as Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Pan Macmillan, National Book Trust India, Woodpecker, Cambridge Book Depot, among others. The event will also serve as a platform for literary and cultural activities throughout the week.
The book fair will start with engaging fun activities at Children’s Corner with school children including cursive writing sessions, musical storytelling, puppet-making workshops, self-defense classes, caricature drawing, Vedic mathematics and much more.
Children will also participate in drawing, poster-making, and portrait-making workshops, ensuring an enriching experience for young readers. Expert facilitators such as the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association, Vasudha Ahuja, Kunal Shandilya, Vivek Kumar and Seema Wahi will guide these activities.
The afternoons will be abuzz at the Literary Corner that will feature panel discussions and book launches, providing a platform for authors and literary figures to exchange ideas with the audience. This will be followed by an open mic session for youth where college students can showcase their talents in poetry, music, and performance, creating an exciting and creative space for the youth.
The evenings will come alive with cultural performances featuring captivating performances by popular artists from Meghalaya. Audiences will enjoy traditional classical folk dances by Geetanjali Dance Academy; live instrumental music by groups like the Pynter Orchestra, Colors Band, Kupar Shadap Band, Alive Band and cultural expressions such as flute recitals and drum ensembles.
