India to be guest of honour at Abu Dhabi book fair

India will be the guest of honour at the 29th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair to be held here next week in which over 1000 publishers from 50 countries will participate, according to a media report.

The National Book Trust of India will lead a 100-strong delegation comprising celebrated authors, publishers, literary figures and artists at the Book Fair to be held from April 24 to 30, Smitha Pant, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian embassy said at a press conference.

Preeti Shenoy, Deepak Unnikrishnan, Manoj Das, Indu Menon, Urdu writer Rattan Singh and Hindi writer Divik Ramesh are among the top draws from the Indian delegtation, the Khaleej Times reported.

"India's participation as the guest of honour is reflective of the deep strategic ties between India and the UAE," Pant said.

"The recently opened Zayed-Gandhi digital museum at the Manarat Al Saadiyat that showcases the teachings and life of the two great leaders is an example of the cultural cooperation that is part of the ties shared by the two countries," she added.

She said India will have the biggest pavilion at the book fair. Apart from the eminent authors in both English and other regional languages, India pavilion will also host an impressive line-up of cultural shows, poetry sessions and workshops.