The Hyderabad Book Fair (HBF) to be held from December 17 to 26 at the NTR stadium will be a feast to book lovers showcasing thousands of books from five languages - Hindu, Telugu, English, Tamil and Malayalam apart from hosting talks with writers, editors and cultural activists reflecting Telangana culture.
The HBF Trust president, Juluru Gouri Shanker; secretary, K. Chandramohan; vice president, Sambasiva Rao and noted poet Nandini Sidda Reddy said that the first book show after the formation of Telangana will not only showcase Telangana culture but continue to promote reading culture among children. Entry will be free for children, students and teachers.
The fair likely to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekara Rao and attended by Finance Minister, Etela Rajender and Education Minister, G. Jagadish Reddy will have more than 300 stalls with books from all genres including the latest publications. The 10-day fair will also see editors sharing their experiences on how books changed their lives, poetry sessions, exclusive women writers meetings and cultural programmes depicting the Telangana culture and literature.
Mr. Gouri Shanker also requested the Chief Minister to consider establishing a State Book Trust on the lines of National Book Trust and also allot a permanent place for book fairs in the city. The fair will be open from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on weekends. Entry fee is Rs. 5.