The President lauded the participation of Poland in a big way at the 16th edition of New Delhi World Book Fair as 'Guest of Honour', particularly at the 60th anniversary of India-Poland diplomatic relations.

There is also participation by the countries in the neighbourhood with which India has close cultural links like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. About 30 countries including Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, UAE and two inter-governmental organisations - World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) are participating in the event in a big way.

The stall from Saudi Arabia, took a novel approach by distributing books and booklets on Quran and Islam free of cost.

New Hindi translations of Polish writers like Ryszard Kapuscinski's Shah of Shahs, Olga Tokarczuk's Wardrobe and Andrzej Stasluk's Tale of Galicia are put up in Polish stalls.

The President in his inaugural address inspired the publishers that even in the new digital era there will be the need for books and printed matter as there is no dearth of 'book-lovers' in the country.

The 25-member strong Polish delegation is co-led by the Secretary, Public and Economic Diplomacy in the Polish Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kataryzyna Kaceperczyk and Secretary in the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Monika Smolen.

The Fair is organised by the National Book Trust and Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

Apart from a galaxy of publishers, writers, rights managers, academicians, translators, the Polish delegation consists of Deputy Joint Secretary, Asia-Pacific Department, Maciej Falkowski, Director of Management Board of Polish Promotional Emblem Foundation, Krysztof Przybyl, Director, Department of International Relations in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Urszula Slazak, Deputy Director, Cultural Heritage DepartmentDorota Janiszewska Jakubiak, Director, Department of Art and Culture Education Wiktor Jedrzejec, First Secretary in Polish Embassy in India, Sebastian Domzalski and Director, Polish Book Institute, Grzegorz Gauden.

Keeping in view the theme of the New Delhi World Book Fair, Kathasagara or Children's Literature, the Polish presentation is a rich mix of interesting programmes for children and adults. They include talks and discussions on Polish book market and publishing, Polish literary genres like 'Reportage', Polish fiction from Joseph Conrad to Reyszard Kapuscinski, feminist travellers, Polish School of Poster, 'Art and Writing', comparative dialogues on literary heritage of Polish city Krakow and New Delhi, readings from the works of Nobel Prize winning poets like Wislawa Szymborska, Czeslaw Milosz by visiting Polish poets, 'Locomotive' workshop for children, exhibitions of best Polish illustrations for Children and photographic exhibitions that promise to introduce children as well as grown ups to the artistic genius of Poland. Poland has also organised a series of events outside the Fair venue.

New Delhi World Book Fair is one of the major international book event in Asia, Asia-Pacific and Africa. The 16th edition of this Fair is divided into seven major categories namely, social science, science and technology, e-content and digital books, general books, children books. About 100 authors are slated to interact with their fans at Arthor's Corners. CEOs and senior executives of leading publishing houses would also interact with visitors at separate venues. B2B events are also arranged between publishers and copyright holders or translators or editors. A series of cultural programmes are also arranged at the venue.