Life's truest companions: Delhi CM at 29th Book Fair
The CM described the fair to be an emotional experience and said, 'Books are life's truest and most selfless companions. They ask for nothing and offer everything. This fair is a celebration of that timeless friendship.'
She urged people to read more, saying that books are not merely collections of printed pages; they are guiding lights that shape generations.
Delhi minister for art, culture, and languages Kapil Mishra was the guest of honour and praised the book fair for being an intersection of creativity, knowledge, and expression. He proposed that future editions of the fair be held as complete literary festivals, and have platforms for authors, poets, students, and literature enthusiasts to engage and collaborate with each other.
This year's edition also includes the 25th Stationery Fair and the 9th Office Automation and Corporate Gifts Fair.
Meanwhile, the publishers said the fair is not the same as it used to be. 'Readers have decreased, there is less advertisement and costs are higher. We've been coming here for 15 years, but have been running losses for last 4 times,' said Hemant Madaan, who owns bookshops across the city. 'We've set up multiple stalls here, and that also cost us around ₹7 lakhs,' he added.
Smaller publishers found the event to be beneficial. 'I've been coming here for 10 years. My business has grown a lot due to this event,' said Sanjay Jain, the owner of Vidhi book center in Ahmedabad.
Visitors said that they had not been able to spot books in languages other than Hindi or English. 'There is a decent collection, but the books should be sorted better,' said a visitor. '
Another visitor said, 'It's a good place to build your collection. This was my first time attending the fair, and I will be coming back next time.'
India Trade Promotion Organisation chairman Pradeep Singh Kharola, Federation of Indian Publishers president Naveen Gupta, and senior government officials were also present at the event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ready to pay personal price to protect farmers' interest: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India will never compromise the interests of its farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers, asserting that he would be ready to pay any price. 'For us, farmers' interest is the foremost priority. India will never compromise the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I believe, personally, I will have to pay the price, and I am ready for that,' Modi said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI) He was addressing a three-day global conference to mark the birth centenary of late renowned agri-scientist M S Swaminathan. His remarks come against the backdrop of the US announcing a further increase in the tariff on Indian goods, including agricultural products, to 50 per cent. Modi also released a commemorative coin and stamp in honour of the legendary scientist. He was a renowned Indian geneticist and agricultural scientist, famously known as the 'father of the Green Revolution' in India for his pivotal role in transforming Indian agriculture during the 1960s by introducing high-yielding wheat varieties and modern farming techniques. His work significantly increased food production and alleviated poverty among farmers in India. Swaminathan was born on August 7, 1925, in Kumbakonam and passed away on September 28, 2023, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, at the age of 98.
News18
13 minutes ago
- News18
Trumps reciprocal tariffs come into effect globally, including India
New York/Washington, Aug 7 (PTI) The initial 25 per cent tariffs announced by the US on Indian imports came into effect Thursday, with President Donald Trump saying billions of dollars from countries that have taken advantage of America will now start flowing into the country. 'It's Midnight!!! Billions of Dollars In Tariffs Are Now Flowing Into The United States Of America!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social as the clock struck 12 midnight in the US, ushering in the August 7 date when the reciprocal tariffs announced on nations by Trump last week come into effect. 'Reciprocal tariffs take effect at midnight tonight! Billions of dollars, largely from countries that have taken advantage of the United States for many years, laughing all the way, will start flowing into the USA. The only thing that can stop America's greatness would be a radical left court that wants to see our country fail!" Trump said in another post. Last week, the White House announced that India will face tariffs of 25 per cent after Trump issued an executive order listing the various duties that Washington will impose on exports from countries around the world. In the Executive Order titled 'Further Modifying The Reciprocal Tariff Rates', Trump had announced tariff rates for nearly 70 nations. The 25 per cent 'Reciprocal Tariff, Adjusted" imposed on India came into effect on Thursday. The tariffs in the list ranged from 10 per cent to 40 per cent, with Japan being charged 15 per cent, Laos and Myanmar (40 per cent each), Pakistan (19 per cent), Sri Lanka (20 per cent) and the United Kingdom (10 per cent). In addition to the 25 per cent tariff announced last week, Trump on Wednesday imposed another 25 per cent levies on India for its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties slapped on India to 50 per cent, among the highest imposed by the US on any country in the world. The additional 25 per cent duty will come into effect after 21 days or August 27. India, responding to the tariffs, said that the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. India said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. On an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for Russian purchases, Indiaspora, a nonprofit US-based organisation of global Indian diaspora leaders across diverse professions, said in a statement that it believes the 'current setback" in what is otherwise an enduring, robust and broad-based people-to-people relationship will be temporary. 'We remain optimistic that the ongoing discussions, when concluded, will reflect the aspirations of both nations and the global Indian diaspora that believes in them," Indiaspora said. It stressed that with over five million Indian-Americans contributing meaningfully to the US economy, culture, and civic life, the diaspora serves as a living bridge between the world's two largest democracies. 'We believe the US-India relationship is not just important—it is essential. As global dynamics shift, this economic partnership should stand as a cornerstone for stability, innovation, and progress in the 21st century," it said. Ajay Bhutoria, an Indian-American community leader and former advisor to President Joe Biden, said he strongly opposes Trump's decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. 'India supplies nearly half of America's affordable generic drugs. These tariffs will inflate prescription prices, hitting families, seniors, and small businesses hard. Everyday items—spices, lentils, Diwali clothing—will become pricier, with reports estimating apparel and footwear costs could rise 37%," he said. Bhutoria noted that Trump granted China a 90-day tariff pause while targeting India, a key democratic ally, for its energy needs. 'This double standard risks undermining the robust USD 186 billion US-India trade partnership and our shared goal of reaching USD 500 billion by 2030." He underscored that the US and India share a strong, vibrant partnership built on mutual respect, economic ties, and shared values. 'We must work through these challenges together, not through divisive tariffs that hurt both nations. I urge both governments to prioritise dialogue and fair trade solutions that strengthen our alliance and keep costs affordable for our communities." Over the last few months, India and the US held several rounds of negotiations for a bilateral trade deal, but it could not be sealed in view of sharp divergences in certain critical areas, including agriculture and dairy. PTI YAS NSA (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
Rupee rises 5 paise to 87.67 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai, Aug 7 (PTI) The rupee traded in a narrow range and appreciated 5 paise to 87.67 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump slapped an additional 25 per cent duty — doubling it to 50 per cent — on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. Forex traders said Trump's aggressive move, which kicks in 21 days, threatens to raise total duties on select Indian exports to as high as 50 per cent — making them among the most heavily taxed US imports globally. At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened at 87.69 against the US dollar then touched an initial high of 87.67, higher by 5 paise over its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee rebounded from a record low level and closed 16 paise higher at 87.72 against the US dollar. Trump's tariffs on Indian exports are likely to hit sectors such as textiles, marine and leather exports hard and was slammed by India as 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". With this action singling out New Delhi for the Russian oil imports, India will attract the highest US tariff of 50 per cent along with Brazil. The United States has imposed this additional tariff or penalty for Russian imports only on India while other buyers such as China and Turkey have so far escaped such harsh measures. The 30 per cent tariff on China and 15 per cent on Turkey is lower than India's 50 per cent. 'The escalation adds to concerns over the economic impact. If no breakthrough happens within the 21-day window, FY26 GDP growth may have to be revised below 6 per cent, factoring in a 40–50 basis point hit — twice the earlier estimate from tariff effects," CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said. Pabari further noted that amid these rising tensions and economic concerns, the rupee remains vulnerable and could see further downside as uncertainty continues to mount. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India opted to hold the repo rate steady at 5.50 per cent and retained a neutral stance during its latest policy review. 'The decision suggests policymakers are adopting a wait-and-watch approach as they weigh the uncertain trade backdrop against an already slowing global economy," Pabari said, adding that the room for manoeuvre is tightening. India's foreign exchange reserves fell by USD 9.3 billion to USD 688.9 billion as of August 1, reflecting Central Bank's active rupee defence operations amid rising external stress, he said. Meanwhile, Brent crude prices rose 0.99 per cent to USD 67.55 per barrel in futures trade. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.04 per cent to 98.21. In the domestic equity market, Sensex dropped 335.71 points to 80,208.28 in early trade, while the Nifty declined 114.15 points to 24,460.05. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 4,999.10 crore on a net basis on Wednesday, according to exchange data. PTI DRR DRR DRR view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
