India launched its National Stand at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair on Wednesday, aiming to spotlight its rich literary heritage and foster cultural exchange. The event, attended by prominent figures from both India and Germany, featured the release of German and Spanish translations of classic Indian children's stories.
The stand was inaugurated by Deepak Bansal, acting consul general of India in Frankfurt, alongside author and social activist Sundeep Bhutoria. Claudia Kaiser, vice-president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, and Dhananjay Singh, member secretary of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, were among the distinguished guests. This initiative, organized by the Ministry of Education with NBT-India as the nodal agency, seeks to introduce Indian literature to a global audience through a unified national presentation.
Director of the National Book Trust (NBT), India, emphasized that the stand represents all Indian publishers collectively, rather than any single entity. This approach places Indian literature and languages at the forefront of the country's participation in the fair. Bansal highlighted the significance of this year's participation, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India-Germany relations, and expressed hope that it would strengthen bilateral ties.
Bhutoria underscored the role of books in exploring India's diverse culture and history. He noted that translations play a crucial role in making Indian literary works accessible across linguistic boundaries. Kumar Vikram, chief editor and joint director of NBT-India, added that the stand aims to highlight major figures in Indian literature, such as Premchand and Sumitranandan Pant, while encouraging younger readers to engage with these writers.
The event also saw the release of Modern Indian Classic Stories for Children in German and Spanish. This collection, published by NBT-India, includes works by renowned authors like Premchand, Bhisham Sahni, Sudarshan, Amarkant, Vishnu Prabhakar, and Acharya Shivpujan Sahay. Stories such as Mitthu by Premchand and Do Goraiya by Bhisham Sahni are among those featured, aiming to connect young readers with established Indian writers.
The translations are designed to extend the reach of these classics beyond their original language editions. The collective display of books at the fair is seen as an opportunity to strengthen cultural diplomacy efforts and increase international interest in India's publishing sector.
