Contemporary Scenario of Children's Literature Programmes at New Delhi World Book Fair 2026

New Delhi: On the final day of the nine-day-long New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, Sahitya Akademi hosted two significant literary sessions: “Face-to-Face” and “Bal Sahiti: Contemporary Scenario of Children’s Literature”—at Hall No. 2, Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

 

In the Face-to-Face programme, veteran Hindi author and Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar awardee Smt. Kshama Sharma reflecting on her literary life, she spoke about her habit of immediately noting down ideas as they occur to her. She recalled that a nurturing literary environment at home and strong encouragement during her childhood enabled her to publish her first article at the age of 18. She also read out her story “Eco-friendly”, which deals with the interference of large corporates in the field of journalism. Renowned Nepali writer Diwakar Pradhan spoke on the irony of the use of modern expressions of emotion on social media without an understanding of their literary or cultural appropriateness. He elaborated on the expression “RIP”, commonly used on the demise of a person in Abrahamic faiths, and contrasted it with the Indian philosophical concept of karma, where death is viewed not as an end, but as a transition or change of the physical body.

 

This was followed by a symposium titled “Bal Sahiti: Contemporary Scenario of Children’s Literature,” chaired by noted poet and children’s writer Sri Divik Ramesh. The panel comprised Sri Om Prakash Kashyap, Sri Rajnikant Shukla, Rishi Raj, and Sri Suryanath Singh, who examined current trends and challenges in children’s literature. From the Chair, Divik Ramesh remarked that true children’s literature is written for children, not merely about them. Sri Om Prakash Kashyap traced the evolution of children’s literature from Western beginnings to contemporary Indian writing. Rajnikant Shukla stressed the importance of cultural roots and noted the lack of a common platform for children’s literature beyond Hindi. Rishi Raj highlighted its role in nurturing sensitivity, while  Suryanath Singh observed the growing availability of books for all age groups, from infants to teenagers.

 

Both programmes were compered by Ajay Kumar Sharma, who thanked the participants and the audience on behalf of the Sahitya Akademi.