World Book Fair Begins With Call for Climate Change Awareness

New Delhi: The 26th New Delhi World Book Fair, a nine-day event themed on ‘Environment and Climate Change’ was inaugurated by environmentalist Sunita Narain, European Union ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski, National Book Trust chairman Baldev Bhai Sharma and Madhu Ranjan Kumar, Joint Secy- Minister of Human Resource Development.

HRD minister Prakash Javadekar addressed the visitors through video conference and said that climate change awareness is important as humans have exploited earth beyond limits. He also said, “We have taken more from the earth than it could offer. It is about time we realised the importance of awareness, and it won’t be possible without collective efforts by not wasting electricity, water; by taking bicycle to travel or by walking more instead of using petrol and diesel-run vehicles”.

Spreading awareness about the effects of climate change Author-environmentalist Sunita Narain said, “The western world is talking and negotiating about environment change, they are holding meetings while here in India we are witnessing climate change with extreme cold, extreme drought and extreme rains.

She also said, “It is no more an upcoming event, climate change is here. And the worst affected are the poorest people, the farmers, the marginalised. We don’t need to be told about climate change, we are living it”.

Talking about the role of books in disseminating awareness about environment and climate change European Union ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski said, “The most important aspect of a book fair is the participation for general public, and with the event’s theme of environment and climate change we hope to spread the message to as many people as possible. The fair has a very high reputation of creating awareness and bringing change in the society. It is a medium to develop cultural ties between India and the European countries”.

“The fair has a very high reputation of creating awareness and bringing change in the society. It is a medium to develop cultural ties between India and the European countries,” the ambassador said.

The book fair has dedicated Hall 7E to the theme ‘Environment and Climate Change’ with books in English, Hindi and other Indian languages on environment-related issues like climate change, global warming, water and air pollution.

Over 20 European Union countries and more than 40 countries including Canada, China, Egypt, Pakistan and United Kingdom will participate in the book fair. There is an author’s corners in different halls which will give opportunity to visitors to interact with some of the well-known writers like Ruskin Bond, Jerry Pinto, Michael Creighton, Paro Anand, Mridula Garg and Ranjit Lal among others.

The author interactions will be held at five Authors Corners in Reflections (Hall 11), Conversations (Hangar over lake), International Events Corner (Hall 7A), Lekhak Manch (Hall 12-12A), and Sahitya Manch (Hall 8).