Lucknow: The 22nd National Book Fair at Balrampur Garden, Ashok Marg, entered its second day with a remarkable turnout of book lovers exploring new titles. The weekend holiday added to the rush, as readers eagerly browsed through fresh literary offerings.
Rajpal & Sons showcased newly launched works, including Aadmi Ki Poonch by Vishnu Nagar, Jal Jungle Zameen by Hariram Meena focusing on tribal life, and Jayanti Ranganathan’s Middle Class Manchurian, all of which drew considerable attention. At Vani Prakashan’s stall, folk singer Malini Awasthi’s memoir-inspired Chandan Kiwad Mein Lok Ki Mitti Ki Gandh captured the fragrance of rural traditions, while Balendu Dwivedi’s Badshah Salamat Hajir Hon…! revisited Lucknow’s Nawabi era. Other highlights included Alison Busch’s Kesav Sunhu Praveen (Hindi translation by Reyazul Haq) and Promod Bhargava’s Aryavart.
In a special session, under the banner of Kriti aur Kritikar, Dr. Rinki’s book Hindi Sahitya evam Vividh Vimrash was released, followed by a panel discussion featuring Mahendra Bhishm, Dr. Vidyasagar Upadhyay, Saurabh Chaturvedi, and others. The Shyam Narayan Pandey Samman was conferred upon poets Atal Narayan Prayag and Ravi Rudransh Awasthi (Barabanki), Sandeep Singh Anuragi (Barabanki) for oral traditions, and Prashant Dixit for social service.
Adding depth to the sessions, Dr. Rahul Mishra spoke about his analytical works on the Ramayana and Mahabharata, emphasizing persistence and positive thinking as tools for success. The day began with a session by entrepreneurs Siddharth and Divyanshu Shukla of Vishwam Foundation, who shared insights into their eco-friendly startups. The evening closed with a poetry gathering where eminent poets, including Prof. Balwant Singh, Rashmi Leher, Narendra Bhushan, and Om Neerav, presented their works.
The fair, offering free entry and a minimum 10% discount on all book purchases, will continue daily from 11 am to 9 pm until September 14. Supporting partners include UP Metro, Radio City, Origins, Kiran Foundation, Join Hands Foundation, Lokangan, and Vishwam Foundations.
