- Union Minister of State of Human Resource Development Sanjay Dhotre, Government of India present on the occasion of award with Indian delegation

“VAN” (Delhi Bureau) :: On Saturday, 30 November 2019, the 33rd edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara) was inaugurated in the Rulfo Auditorium, Expo Guadalajara with INDIA designated as the Guest of Honour Country. The Guadalajara International Book Fair is the largest book fair of the Latin-American region, and the second largest book fair in the world after Frankfurt Book Fair. Shri Sanjay Dhotre, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Human Resource Development, Government of India, spoke on the occasion as the leader of the Indian delegation, comprising over a hundred delegates from India.

He emphasized on the cordial Indo-Mexico cultural ties, going centuries back, and said that he was happy that INDIA was chosen as the Guest Country at the biggest Book Fair of the Spanish-speaking world, as INDIA is the first and only Asian country to have been given this honour. Speaking about the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, being celebrated in India during this year, he said that the quote by Mahatma Gandhi "Let our lives be open books" is our motto because it represents, among other things, the entire atmosphere of interaction and communication provided by the platforms of book fairs. Incidentally, this quote has been used in the INDIA PAVILION at the Book fair.

The Inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Mr Raúl Padilla López, President of the Guadalajara International Book Fair and President of the Civil Association of the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages; Mr Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí, Rector-General of the University of Guadalajara; Mr Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, Constitutional Governor of the State of Jalisco; Mr Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, Secretary of Culture of the Government of Mexico; Ms Luz Elena Gutiérrez de Velasco Romo, Spokesperson for the Jury of the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages 2019, and Mr David Huerta, winner of the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages 2019.

After the inaugural ceremony at the main auditorium, the INDIA PAVILION was formally inaugurated by cutting of ribbon and lamp lighting by Shri Sanjay Dhotre, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and by Shri Manpreet Vohra, Ambassador of India to Mexico, Mr Ricardo Villanueva, the rector of the University of Guadalajara, Mr Raúl Padilla, President of the FIL Guadalajara, Ms Marisol Schulz, Director-General of FIL, Ms Neera Jain, Director National Book Trust, India, and Mr Alejandra Frausto, Secretary of Culture of Mexico. The inaugural event was presented by Ms Shrimati Das, Director of Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Center, Embassy of India, Mexico City.

On this occasion, the Hon’ble Minister released two books of National Book Trust, India in Spanish translation, titled ‘Stories from Bapu’s Life’ (Anecdotes from Mahatma Gandhi’s Life) and ‘Holidays have Come’ (by Rabindranath Tagore). The National Book Trust, India has especially published 12 of its titles into Spanish translation trough Mexican-based translators.

The inauguration ended with rendering of classical Indian music and an Indian dance performance. The INDIA – Guest of Honour Country Presentation at the Guadalajara International Book Fair 2019 has been coordinated by the National Book Trust, India (NBT India) that has been designated as the Nodal Agency by the Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India. With a huge aesthetically built INDIA PAVILION at the book fair in around 1200 sq.m., the Pavilion has integrated the representation of Indian scripts; Books from India in English, Hindi and Sanskrit as well as those in Spanish; a huge Bookstore; Business Tables for Indian publishers; Rights exchange areas; Author’s Corner for literary events and other activities; Digital exhibitions; Gandhi installation; and much more. The NBT India has also coordinated with other national institutions and with support from Embassy of India has brought together to the book fair representatives from Sahitya Akademi, Capexil, Vigyan Prasar, Lalit Kala Akademi, IGNCA, ICCR, Central Hindi Directorate, CSTT, besides other private publishers. In addition, more than fifteen authors writing in different Indian languages and in different genres are also part of various literary sessions spread out during the nine-day book fair.