During the ceremony, Shri Pradhan released the book The Saga of Kudopali: The Untold Story of 1857 in nine Indian languages including Bangla, Assamese, Punjabi, Marathi, Malayalam and Urdu, along with Spanish. Previously available in Hindi, English, and Odia, the book now reaches readers in 13 languages, highlighting lesser-known chapters of India’s 1857 freedom struggle and honouring Veer Surendra Sai and the martyrs of Kudopali.
A video on the saga was also screened, underlining India’s commitment to multilingualism and global literary dialogue.
Theme of NDWBF 2026: Indian Military History
The theme for this year’s NDWBF is “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75”. The central attraction is a 1,000 sq. metre Theme Pavilion featuring over 500 books, curated exhibits, installations, and replicas of military assets including the Arjun Tank, INS Vikrant, and LCA Tejas. Tributes are also paid to 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, alongside sessions on major wars and operations from 1947 to Operation Sindoor.
The fair, which runs from 10–18 January 2026, hosts more than 1,000 publishers from over 35 countries, 600+ events, and over 1,000 speakers. Entry has been made free for the first time, making it accessible to millions of readers and enthusiasts.
International Participation and Cultural Exchange
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Ernest Urtasun Domènech highlighted Spain’s participation in the Spain–India Dual Year 2026 and the opportunity to promote Spanish writers in India. H.E. Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani emphasized that Qatar’s participation reflects strong bilateral ties and the role of culture in strengthening people-to-people connections.
Shri Pradhan noted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has transformed the culture of reading into a people’s movement, with a vision of building an informed, thoughtful, and knowledge-driven generation.