The 33rd edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (Feria International del Libro de Guadalajara) was inaugurated in the Rulfo Auditorium, Expo on Saturday with India as its Guest of Honour country.

It is largest book fair of the Latin-American region, and the second largest book fair in the world after Frankfurt Book Fair. Sanjay Dhotre, Union Minister of State of Human Resource Development, spoke on the occasion as the leader of the Indian delegation, comprising over a hundred delegates from India.

He emphasised on the cordial Indo-Mexico cultural ties and expressed his happiness over India being chosen as the Guest Country as it is the first and only asian country to have been given this honour. Speaking about the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi being celebrated in India this year, he said that his quote, “Let our lives be openbooks” is our motto because it represents the entire atmosphere of interaction and communication of book fairs.

The Inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Raúl Padilla López, President of the book fair and Civil Association of the FIL Prize for literature in Romance Languages. He along with Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, Constitutional Governor of the State of Jalisco, Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, Secretary of Culture of the Government of Mexico, Luz Elena Gutiérrez de Velasco Romo, Spokesperson for the Jury of the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages 2019, David Huerta, winner of the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages 2019.

On the occasion, two books of National Book Trust, India were released in Spanish translation, titled Stories from Bapu’s Life and Holidays have Come (by Rabindranath Tagore). The National Book Trust has especially published 12 of its titles into Spanish translation through Mexican-based translators.

India represented books in English, Hindi, Sanskrit and Spanish. There was author’s corner for literary events, digital exhibitions, Gandhi installation and much more. The NBT India had also brought book fair representatives from Sahitya Akademi, Capexil, Vigyan Prasar, Lalit Kala Akademi, IGNCA, ICCR, Central Hindi Directorate and CSTT, besides other private publishers. In addition, more than 15 authors writing in different Indian languages and in different genres were also the part of various literary sessions during the nine-day fair.