NBT, India organises Publishers Meet

A Publishers Meet was organized by NBT, India, where the new chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma was formally introduced and a feedback session was held for the recently concluded New Delhi World Book Fair 2015. As many as 70 publishers attended the meet and each one was given an opportunity to put forward their views. Though most of them showed their happiness and satisfaction with the arrangements made by NBT, India, some of them expressed a few concerns/suggestions. These included the need of concurrent literary festival to be a part of the book fair, facility of first two days or few hours for trade visitors only and book bazaar sale to be avoided (small booksellers selling books at throwaway prices). Also, a publisher expressed that pirated copies of the books were sold at the fair, which should be banned.

Other suggestions included reinstatement of Young Author Award and Importer of the Indian Books Award. Publishers also requested NBT, India to stock books from private publishers at the NBT bookshops at Metro stations as well.

The new chairman listened patiently and assured the publishers community that he will put in his best efforts to look into these suggestions. However, he did not forget to mention that these fairs should not be taken for just selling books but to look into as how reading habits can be enhanced at youth or adult level.