Gujarat CM inaugurates Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2026

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday inaugurated the Ahmedabad International Book Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront, along with the CHHAAP Exhibition organised by the Union Ministry of Textiles, highlighting the importance of reading, literature and cultural exchange.The festival, jointly organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the National Book Trust, features more than 700 bookstalls and participation from over 125 leading publishers. It will remain open until November 1, from 11 am to 10 pm.

Addressing the gathering, Patel said the festival would strengthen Gujarat’s literary and cultural identity while creating opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vanche Gujarat’ reading campaign, launched during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, which laid the foundation for the National Book Fair at the Sabarmati Riverfront in 2012.
Patel highlighted the state government’s commitment to promoting Gujarati language, literature and library infrastructure. He said the 2026-27 state budget allocated Rs182 crore for education, libraries, cultural activities and the promotion of Gujarati. The government is also planning libraries named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda in tribal areas and a state-of-the-art Namo Central Library in Gandhinagar, for which Rs7,100 crore has been allocated, according to the announcement.
During the event, Patel and other dignitaries released the Gujarati edition of Sardar Teja Singh Samundri: Life and Legacy, documenting the freedom fighter’s contribution to the Gurdwara Reform Movement. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said the translation would help Gujarati readers learn about Samundri’s role in social reform, education and public service.

The festival features programmes on Gujarati literature, poetry, music, children's literature and writing, along with author interactions and intellectual discussions. The accompanying CHHAAP Exhibition showcases traditional artworks by more than 92 artisans from across India, reimagined by students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).Patel also launched a free-pass scheme for senior citizens residing in the AUDA area and flagged off three AMTS buses to improve public transport connectivity.The Chief Minister urged citizens, particularly children and young people, to develop a lasting reading habit and learn about India’s history and freedom fighters, contributing to the vision of a developed India through a developed Gujarat.

(State Correspondent)