A Colourful gathering of books, culture and children begins at the 26th Sambalpur Book Fair

The 26th Sambalpur Book Fair has been inaugurated on 24 January 2026. The fair is being organised by the National Book Trust, India (NBT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with SETU and the
District Administration of Sambalpur, Odisha. The fair will continue until 1 February 2026 at P.H.D Ground, Ainthapali, Sambalpur, Odisha.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India,formally inaugurated the 26th Sambalpur Book Fair. Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Shri Ravi Narayan Naik, Hon’ble Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and Drinking Water; Shri Suryavanshi Suraj, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, Sports and Youth Literature and Culture; Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust,India; Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India; and Dr. Minketan Rakshi,President, SETU.

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Addressing the gathering, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that the book fair is not merely an event but a celebration of thinking, of new ideas and new behaviour. He emphasised that books inspire individuals and that reading deepens knowledge, helping people move two steps ahead in life. Advising students, he observed that while mobile phones can provide information, they cannot offer the depth
of knowledge that books impart. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also spoke about Veer Surendra Sai’s brother, Udanthava Sai, who served the longest prison sentence, and mentioned the activist Mati Sambalpur. He urged children to visit Birmati Khinda to pay homage and learn about Surendra Sai’s struggle. He thanked the National Book Trust, India, for publishing the story of the Kudopali struggle in multiple language. On the occasion, the National Book Trust, India, and SETU also called for efforts to establish the Sambalpur Book Fair as the largest book fair in the state in the coming years.

In his welcome address, Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust, India, referred to the Kudopali Sanjavika book of Sambalpur and noted that it has been published in 12 Indian languages, including Odia, and translated into Spanish, thereby reaching readers across the world. Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, proposed the vote-of-thanks. A video presentation on Kudopali Sanjavika was screened, following which authors Shri Deepak Panda, Shri Dharmendra Mishra,and Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra were felicitated. On the occasion, the books Anandmath(Odia), History of Sambalpur (English), Veer Surendra Sai, Maa Samaleswari,
Sabmarjad Temples of Sambalpur (English), Satya Narayan Bhatdar Granthura andGhanashyam Granthura were dedicated to the public.

The book fair features over 250 stalls by national and international publishers, offering a wide range of titles including children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction, educational books, reference works, and popular textbooks.

One of the key highlights of the fair is the Children’s Pavilion. The Children’s Room, organised and managed by the National Centre for Children’s Literature (NCCL), a wing of National Book Trust, India offers vibrant interactive, educational, and creative activities for students from Classes I to XII. These activities include storytelling sessions, music programmes, quiz, drawing and slogan-writing competitions, book cover and poster design workshops, yoga for children, science with fun, mandala art, panel painting, and Ikat art workshops. The sessions are being conducted by experienced artists, teachers, and members of the NCCL team. On the first day of the nine-day book fair, several programmes were successfully conducted at the Sishu Mandap.

The Sambalpur Book Fair serves as a vibrant platform celebrating the intersection of books, culture and community. Each day of the fair will feature performances by renowned local and national artists, showcasing a rich blend of dance, music and cultural expressions. The inaugural evening witnessed an electrifying performance by noted singer Umakant Barik, which drew an enthusiastic response from the audience.Thousands of people from across Sambalpur, spanning different age groups, gathered to enjoy the musical evening, creating an atmosphere of collective celebration.

Over the next eight days, the fair will continue to host a variety of programmes, including morning sessions dedicated to children, Saraswat talks and author interactions from 4 pm onwards, and cultural performances by eminent artists in the evenings. Through the Sambalpur Book Fair, the National Book Trust, India seeks to celebrate the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Odisha while strengthening the bond between publishers, authors and readers.
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