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Starting this year, the World Book Fair — which was held once in two years — will be an annual affair.

This was announced by Chairperson & CMD, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Rita Menon. “HRD and the National Book Trust are partnering with ITPO to make this an annual fair,” Menon said.

The fair will have a “Rights Table” this year to enable exchange of translation rights in different languages and countries. Menon also said the fair will include an “Author’s Corner” in each hall where participating publishers will invite authors to interact with readers and help them connect.

A special e-books pavilion has also been included this year.

Menon said the fair has also been opened for business-to-business visitors to the help the publishers. Another new feature of the fair is the children and youth pavilion where beside books, children will be able to don costumes of their favourite characters from books.

WBF 2013 will also include a book art exhibition.

Besides this, guest country, France, is holding “Bonjour India”, a festival of France for Indian book lovers.

French Ambassador to India Francois Richier said manuscripts, which were recently saved from Timbuktu are also available at the French pavilion.

France will also be organising a performance from French theatre at the Shakuntalam Theatre at Pragati Maidan.

The Sangeet

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