In the lead-up to the much-anticipated Nagpur Book Festival, scheduled from November 22 to 30 at Reshimbagh Ground, the National Book Trust (NBT) — operating under the Ministry of Education — has rolled out a unique campaign titled ‘Maharashtra Pustak Parikrama’ to spark a love for reading among students.
This innovative initiative has been generating excitement across schools and colleges in the city. At its heart is a mobile bus transformed into a travelling library, visiting educational campuses and captivating young minds with its wide range of books. The initiative aims to expose students to a variety of genres and authors, while also creating awareness about the upcoming literary event.
“The response from students has been overwhelming. Due to increasing demand from schools and colleges, we’ve extended the bus tour beyond its original timeline,” said Dr Samay Bansod, local organising member of NBT. Organisers Prashant Kukde and Kalyan Deshpande are also closely involved in coordinating the campaign.
The mobile library, redesigned with functional shelves and an inviting atmosphere, offers books in four languages — Hindi, English, Marathi, and Urdu. The collection includes biographies, poetry, fiction, historical works, and literature on freedom fighters. “Our goal is to let students find books they connect with, which helps them develop a genuine reading habit,” Dr Bansod explained. He also highlighted the growing concern over reduced reading time among youth in today’s digital era. “We urge students to begin with just an hour of reading daily — it can make a real difference,” he said.
Maharashtra Pustak Parikrama is only one aspect of a larger promotional plan for the Nagpur Book Festival. NBT will also host a series of engaging competitions in the weeks ahead, including essay writing, poetry, public speaking, and creative writing. These events aim to both entertain and identify 100 emerging young writers from Nagpur.
The main festival will feature a literature fest and a special one-day segment dedicated to teenagers. Notably, six prominent educational institutions — Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, IIM Nagpur, Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (Ramtek), Gondwana University, and Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya — will serve as knowledge partners for the event.
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