Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Highlights Chennai International Book Fair’s Contribution to Tamil and Global Literature

Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presided over the commemoration ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair 2025, held at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam. During the event, he unveiled 75 books published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation and 30 socially relevant books translated under the Social Translation Grant Scheme for the years 2023 and 2024.

The Chief Minister also distributed various prestigious awards, including the Chennai International Book Fair Ambassador Award, Global Digital Book Exhibition Special Award, Classical Tamil Literary Contribution Award, Modern Tamil Literary Contribution Award, Collaborative Publishing Partnership Award, International Book Fair Committee Special Award, Book Promotion Award, and the Global Literary Support Award, recognizing outstanding contributions by authors, publishers, and collaborators.

With the theme “Bringing the World to Tamil; Taking Tamil to the World”, the Chennai International Book Fair continues to enhance Tamil literature’s global reach. In 2023, 24 countries signed 365 mutual agreements, which increased significantly to 40 countries and 752 agreements in 2024. This year’s fair witnessed participation from over 60 countries, including Australia, China, Japan, Ghana, South Korea, and the United States, showcasing a growing international interest.

Held from January 16 to 18, 2025, the book fair remains a significant cultural and literary event, celebrating Tamil’s rich heritage and promoting its integration with global literature. The Chief Minister applauded the fair’s efforts in fostering international collaborations and enriching the world of literature.

The Chennai International Book Fair continues its mission of taking Tamil literature to the global stage while introducing international literary treasures to Tamil readers. This year’s event, hosted at the Chennai Trade Centre, saw participation from 78 publishers, with three special pavilions dedicated to children’s literature, along with exhibitors from over 60 countries.

Tamil Nadu’s efforts in fostering literary translations are noteworthy. Through the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, the government allocates ₹3 crore annually to support the translation of Tamil works into global languages. Over recent years, this initiative has facilitated the translation of 166 Tamil books into 32 languages, significantly enhancing Tamil literature’s global presence.

Renowned international publishers, including Oxford University Press, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Routledge, and Bloomsbury, have collaborated with Tamil Nadu to produce co-publications. These projects focus on translating Tamil classics, modern literature, and historical texts into English and other languages, broadening Tamil’s reach worldwide.

In 2025, 1,125 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the fair, with 1,005 focusing on translations from Tamil to other languages and 120 on translations into Tamil. Notably, there were 33 MoUs for Arabic, 32 for Persian, and 28 for Malay translations.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also presented several awards, including the Chennai Book Fair Ambassador Award to PWB Global Ambassador and other publishing associations, and the Global Digital Book Exhibition Special Award to the Riyadh Book Fair. Tamil literary icons, such as Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma and Professor Dr. Arulsivan Raju, were honored for their contributions to classical and modern Tamil literature.

This year’s event underscored Tamil Nadu’s commitment to celebrating and globalizing Tamil literature, fostering cultural exchange, and strengthening the state’s literary legacy.

At the Chennai International Book Fair Commemoration, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented a series of prestigious awards celebrating contributions to literature, publishing, and translation.

Among the honorees, Thiru M.K.S. Savangadalam received special recognition, while the Co-Publication Partnership Award was presented to Oxford University Press. The Special Award by the International Publishing Group was given to Turkey’s TEDA, and the Book Promotion Award was jointly awarded to Mongolia’s Magic Box and Italy’s Guinti Odeon Bookshop. Additionally, the Global Literary Support Award was conferred upon the Bologna Children’s Book Fair for its unwavering support of literary endeavors.

The event was graced by several distinguished guests, including Thiru T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises; Thiru Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Minister for School Education; and Thiru T.R.B. Raja, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce. Prominent attendees also included Shashi Tharoor, former Union Minister and Member of Parliament; T.R. Baalu, Member of Parliament; and Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, a renowned American author.

International delegates, including Jacks Thomas, Director of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair from Italy, and officials from Tamil Nadu’s educational departments, publishing institutions, and libraries, participated in the event. These included Thiru Dindigul I. Leoni, Chairman of Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, and Dr. S. Manger, Director of Public Libraries.

The awards and collaborations underscore Tamil Nadu’s dedication to promoting literature and fostering global partnerships in the publishing world, further solidifying Chennai’s status as a hub for literary and cultural exchange.