Delhi's Youth Embrace NAMO Book Festival with Enthusiasm
Students from across Delhi gathered eagerly outside the Ambedkar International Centre on Thursday morning. They wore sweaters displaying their school names to ward off the chill. Inside the venue, rows of stalls overflowed with books. Animated conversations filled the air, and a packed auditorium buzzed with energy. This scene marked the launch of the city's first-ever NAMO Book Festival, a youth-focused event.
Festival Inauguration and Scale
Union Minister of State Jitender Singh inaugurated the two-day festival. It successfully brought books, ideas, and young voices together under one roof. Organizers displayed over 450 books by and about the Prime Minister across ten distinct categories. More than 800 students from over 30 colleges participated actively. Engagement extended to over 200 schools, highlighting widespread interest.
Introduction of the Gen V Concept
A defining moment of Day One was the launch of the Gen V festival. This concept reimagines India's Generation Z as Generation V. It aligns young people with the vision of Viksit Bharat. A short film introduced the idea to the audience. An official explained the thinking behind it. "The idea positions young Indians as builders focused on nation-making and long-term contribution, rather than disruption alone," the official stated.
Organizers and Participant Reactions
The Council for Media and Public Policy Research organized the festival in collaboration with Niswarth Kadam and the Delhi Tourism Corporation. Over 30 authors and thinkers participated in the event. Hansika from Rajdhani College performed at the festival. She expressed happiness with the audience's reaction. "I am really happy with the reaction we got for our performance. Now, we will go and explore the book stands," Hansika said. Amit, a student from a Ghaziabad school, attended with his classmates. He sounded excited about the discussions. "The discussions have been very informative," Amit remarked.
Explaining the Gen V Narrative
Ashok Srivastava, director of the Council for Media and Public Policy Research, elaborated on the Gen V narrative. "There is often a question raised about where India's Gen Z stands. What we see is a generation that is preparing, learning and contributing. We can become Viksit Bharat by 2047 when we move forward together, with the youth playing a central role," Srivastava explained.
Engagement with National Institutions
Youth engagement continued through focused interactions with national institutions. Shivkumar Kalyanaram, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, spoke to students. He emphasized the importance of scientific temper, research-led growth, and institutional discipline. Following this, Arunkumar Pillai, CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation, conducted a session. He outlined India's path to achieving Net Zero by 2070, focusing on skills and employability.
Intellectual Direction and Student Voices
Ritu Gupta, founder and director of the Council for Media and Public Policy Research, highlighted the festival's intellectual direction. "Gen V is not a slogan. It reflects how young people think about the future," Gupta said. Student voices took centre stage during the Young Leader session titled 'Viksit Bharat Mein Meri Bhumika'. Pramod Raghav, founder of Niswarth Kadam, shared his perspective. "This festival shows engagement with literature and public thought still matter," Raghav noted.
