NCPUL's upcoming Urdu Book Fair at Aligarh will help boost reading habit among students

MUMBAI: In its continued efforts to promote the culture of reading and boost reading habit among youngsters and students, the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), under Union Ministry of Education, is holding a massive Urdu Kitab Mela or Urdu Book Fair at Aligarh.To be held between November 22 and 30 at Cultural Education Centre of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh, the mela will see participation of over 60 publishers from across the country. Aimed at introducing young students and others to the wonderful world of books and the joy of reading, the book fair is an important event in the NCPUL's calendar."We expect more than 60 stalls of publishing houses at the book fair. Given the overwhelming response to our Book Fairs in the past at different venues in the country, we expect a good turnout at AMU too," said NCPUL's director Dr Shams Equbal.

With over 30,000 students and several hundred teaching and non-teaching staff, the Book Fair is expected to see book lovers coming in droves. Apart from books on varied topics, including history, culture, literary trends, children's books, the Fair will also host discussions and dialogues on Urdu and how this beautiful language has played a pivotal role in not just our freedom movement but in promoting peace and communal harmony.

NCPUL has begun publishing children's books on topics aligned with the vision and mission of National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. Many prominent Urdu writers have been engaged to write books for children in Urdu focussing on India's rich cultural heritage, its stories and our icons. The scheduled Book Fair at AMU is expected to give a boost to the reading habit among the student community.