The National Book Trust (NBT) has made a bold move by permanently relocating its Mumbai office to Pune, with the aim of expanding its literary activities. This decision was announced during the inauguration of the Pune Book Festival office, signaling a new chapter for NBT in Maharashtra.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has stepped in to provide a rented office space for NBT, ensuring that literary initiatives will continue without interruptions. This strategic move is expected to boost Pune’s literary landscape and establish the city as a hub for literary culture.
Former minister Chandrakant Patil emphasized the importance of promoting Marathi language and literature, suggesting initiatives such as producing a film and integrating book-based plays during children’s film festivals. This move comes after Marathi was granted classical language status.
The upcoming Pune Book Festival 2024, scheduled to take place from December 14 to 22 at Fergusson College Grounds, is expected to draw a crowd of 750,000 visitors. The festival aims to break four world records previously held by China and will feature 598 stalls, with an additional 80 stalls on a waitlist due to high demand. The event will also welcome international authors and provide a platform for diverse literary perspectives.
Cultural engagements at the festival include a food festival, storytelling sessions, and free library facilities to encourage public participation and cultural exchange. A special initiative called “Punekar Reading in Silence” is set to take place on November 11 to promote a reading culture among the people of Pune.
With the permanent shift to Pune, NBT plans to expand its literary activities by creating reading spaces and organizing cultural events for children. The festival will also distribute 100,000 books for free to attendees as part of its community outreach efforts.
Plans are in place to translate Marathi literature into other languages to make it more accessible to a wider audience and enhance the recognition of regional literature. NBT’s director, Yuvraj Malik, is optimistic about Pune’s vibrant literary spirit and envisions the Pune Book Festival becoming India’s premier literary event with the goal of taking it to an international platform in the future.
Thanks For Reading Report of Punepress.com