Reading India Samvaad and Army Day Tributes Take Centre Stage at New Delhi World Book Fair 2026

Day 6 at the Delhi World Book Fair 2026 showcased Reading India Samvaad 2026, emphasising strong library networks, multilingual reading, and cultural remembrance, alongside discussions on education policy and national heritage.

*New Delhi, January 15, 2026:* Day 6 of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 witnessed a compelling blend of intellectual dialogue, cultural exchange and national remembrance, as initiatives promoting reading culture ran parallel with solemn tributes to India’s military legacy at Bharat Mandapam.

The *Reading India Samvaad 2026*, a two-day National Leadership Dialogue on Reading and Libraries, commenced on Thursday alongside the book fair. Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, the dialogue aims to strengthen India’s reading, library and knowledge-access ecosystem in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the vision of *Viksit Bharat@2047*.

The Samvaad was inaugurated by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, in the presence of Rajshekhar Joshi, Vice Chairman, Setu Aayog, Government of Uttarakhand; Archana Sharma Awasthi, Additional Secretary, DoSE&L; Yuvraj Malik, Director, NBT; and Kumar Vikram, Chief Editor and Joint Director, NBT.

Emphasising the foundational role of reading in societal progress, Yuvraj Malik recalled how historical leaders such as Alexander the Great, Chandragupta Maurya and Napoleon Bonaparte remained avid readers even during battles. Sanjay Kumar described reading as "the power to enter another mind," calling for wider publication and readership in multiple Indian languages while urging citizens to envision India two decades into the future. Archana Sharma Awasthi reflected on her childhood experiences at the book fair and highlighted the role of parents in nurturing reading habits. Rajshekhar Joshi advocated transforming libraries into dynamic learning ecosystems supported by technology and personalised reading pathways.

The first day of the Samvaad featured two panel discussions—*Reimagining the Classroom: From Textbooks to Reading Culture* and *Libraries as Learning Hubs – Reclaiming Reading Spaces*. Speakers included Nikhil Tiwari (Director, Education, MCD), Danish Aziz (UNICEF India), Maulshree Kalothia (Tata Trusts), Shweta Bhutada (ASER Centre, Pratham), Pradeep Rai (Indian Library Association), Sunita Rattan (Amity University, Noida) and Neeraj Jain (Scholastic India).

At the Theme Pavilion, *Army Day* was commemorated through thought-provoking sessions honouring courage, leadership and sacrifice. A special panel paid tribute to Major Rama Raghoba Rane, the first living recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. Dr. D. V. Guruprasad traced Major Rane’s journey from Karwar in Karnataka to becoming a decorated officer, highlighting values of discipline and perseverance. Lt. Col. Annappa Narayan Shet recounted Major Rane’s extraordinary bravery during the 1947–48 conflict, particularly his mine-clearing operations under heavy enemy fire that enabled Indian troops to advance.

Another panel on *Operation Vijay (Kargil War, 1999)* featured Lt. Gen. Mohindra Puri and Brig. Om Prakash Yadav in conversation with Colonel S. C. Tyagi. Lt. Gen. Puri shared experiences of taking command in the Srinagar–Shershahabad sector at short notice amid harsh terrain and weather conditions, while Brig. Yadav discussed tactical planning, execution and maintaining secure supply lines during the conflict.

The book *Mantra Viplav* by author Tarun Vijay was also launched during the day. Speaking at the event, Dattatreya Hosabale reflected on Maharshi Aurobindo’s ideas, stressing the importance of preserving ancient knowledge, making it relevant to contemporary life, and continuously generating new knowledge.

In the International Pavilion, a panel discussion on *Contemporary Literature and Shared Cultural Aspects of Iran and India* explored the deep intellectual and literary ties between the two civilizations. Scholars Mohammad Fatehali, Ghahreman Soleimani and Sayed Akhtar Husain Kazmi discussed Persian’s historic role as a bridge between India and Iran, serving as a language of literature, administration and science. The recognition of Persian as a classical language by the Government of India was welcomed as a significant step towards preserving shared heritage. The panel also traced Indo-Iranian literary ties to the translation of the *Panchatantra* into Persian as *Kalila wa Dimna* in 517 AD.

Among the dignitaries who visited the fair on Thursday were Satya Pal Singh, former Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development; Maj Gen (Dr) Bipin Bakshi; and Sudhanshu Trivedi, Rajya Sabha MP.

The *Children’s Pavilion* remained vibrant with storytelling sessions, Vedic Maths and science classes, a puppet show, a Child Authors’ Meet and screenings of children’s films. At the Amphitheatre, audiences were treated to Russian folk performances and an energetic set by folk-fusion band *Rahasya: The Project*, blending Indian folk, Sufi, devotional, ghazal and Bollywood music.

With its mix of ideas, heritage and creative expression, Day 6 of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 reaffirmed the event’s role as a national platform celebrating knowledge, culture and collective memory.