Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 15: The Andaman Nicobar Book Fair 2026 continued to draw enthusiastic participation on Day 2, with vibrant children’s activities and an engaging literary session enriching the celebration of books and ideas at ITF Ground, Sri Vijaya Puram. Organized by National Book Trust, India with the support of the Department of Art and Culture, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the fair witnessed another dynamic day filled with learning, creativity, and meaningful discussions.
The Children’s Corner on Day 2 welcomed over 200 young participants from various schools across the city, transforming the venue into a lively space of colour, creativity, and imagination.
The day began with an engaging storytelling session titled “Aao Sune Kahani”, where children were delighted to hear the tale of Babban, the Barber. Singing cheerful jingles along with the storyteller, the young audience immersed themselves in the joy and rhythm of storytelling, making it an interactive and memorable experience.
The second session, Round the Riddle, brought together music, movement, and imagination in an energetic doodle-with-music activity. Participants solved fun riddles while grooving to lively tunes and collaboratively filled a massive drawing sheet with vibrant and imaginative doodles. All participating children were awarded books published by National Book Trust, India, encouraging them to nurture their reading habits and continue their literary journeys.
In the third session, children explored their artistic talents by designing colourful bookmarks in collaboration with Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya. The creative exercise allowed young minds to blend art with reading culture, and the best entries were rewarded with exciting goodies from Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya.
Adding to the excitement, students visited the bookstalls along with their teachers and parents, discovering new stories and authors while soaking in the festive atmosphere of books and learning.
Day 2 also featured an engaging and insightful literary session by acclaimed author Shri Kulpreet Yadav, who spoke about the historical figure Rao Tula Ram and his book The Battle of Narnaul in an in-conversation session with Shri Gaurav Choudhury on the theme – ‘Islands of Memory: How Places Shapes Stories, Identity and Imagination’.
Through vivid storytelling and research-based insights, Shri Kulpreet Yadav shed light on the lesser-known chapters of India’s resistance history, bringing alive the courage, strategy, and legacy of Rao Tula Ram. He also shared his personal experiences as an actor, offering the audience a unique perspective on how performance and literature intersect to enrich narrative expression.
The session beautifully blended history, storytelling, and lived experience, leaving attendees informed, inspired, and deeply engaged with India’s rich historical narratives.
With three vibrant children’s sessions and one compelling literary discussion, Day 2 of the Andaman & Nicobar Book Fair 2026 further strengthened the Fair’s mission to promote reading, creativity, and cultural awareness among readers of all age groups. Visitors are invited to continue being part of this grand celebration at ITF Ground, Sri Vijaya Puram, until 22 February, 2026.
The activities in the Children’s Corner for Feb. 16 include – Creative Writing Fun with Team NCCL for Classes 1 to 5 from 10 am to 10.45 am, Origami Workshop with Shivani for Classes 6 to 8 from 11.00 am to 11.45 am and Slogan Writing Competition with Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya for Classes 9 to 12 from 12 pm to 12.30 pm.