World Book Fair to be held from January 6 to 14 will have a dominant green theme. For a start, it will emphasis that Indian civilization thought deeply about the environment thousands of years before climate change became a global concern. India’s ‘traditional orientation towards the protection of all creation’ — be it humans, water, air, or forests — will be debated.
The event will seek to reinforce the oft-repeated claim that traditional Indian thought was not centred around humans, contrasts it with ‘modern western thought’ that sees humans as central to the planet.
Thus, there will be 600 books on the environment — including various studies, children’s books and eco-fiction in various languages. The European Union is the guest of honour and will host an environmental protection photo exhibition.