Image used for representational purpose.
Image used for representational purpose.

India's first book village to make its mark in Maharashtra's Bhilar

The idea for this book village is inspired by Hay-on-Wye, a Welsh town known for its book stores and literature festivals.

MUMBAI: A village located between the hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, popular for its strawberries will now also be known as India’s first “village of books”. The formal inauguration for Bhilar village is scheduled for May 4.

“We have identified around 25 premises like homes, school, temples and other public places in the village, where over 15,000 books would be made available for tourists for reading. In a way we are transforming the whole village into a library,” minister for culture affairs and Marathi language, Vinod Tawde said here on Friday.

Bhilar has a good readership and villagers enthusiastically came forward to implement the concept, which is why it is being transformed into India’s first “village of books,” the minister said.

Artists from the village have painted the premises chosen for book readings according to various concepts. People would be able to enjoy at least 25 different forms of literature here, the minister said.

The government is planning to organise a ‘lit fest here from time to time and a permanent exhibition on prominent literary figures of Maharashtra has also been set up, Tawde said.

The idea for this book village is inspired by Hay-on-Wye, a Welsh town known for its book stores and literature festivals. Vinod Tawde had, in February 2015, announced his plans to have such a village in Maharashtra.

As of now, all the books provided by the Maharashtra government are in Marathi. Books written in Hindi and English will be added to this collection, and they will comprise roughly 15-20 per cent of the total books. Author interactions, literary events and book-readings will also be conducted in the village, Tawde said.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com