Pune: The Vishva Marathi Sammelan 2025, organized by the Marathi Language Department of the Maharashtra Government, will commence at Fergusson College Grounds, Pune, on January 31.

A notable highlight of this year’s event is a one-of-a-kind book exchange initiative, which offers attendees the chance to exchange old books for new ones for just ₹10.

This initiative is being conducted in collaboration with Pai Granthalaya, a well-known library from Dombivli. It will be available to visitors from 9 AM to 9 PM on all three days of the conference.

Under this program, book lovers can deposit any book by paying a ₹10 exchange fee and then choose any one book from a vast collection of 50,000 books curated by Pai Granthalaya. The initiative aims to promote the habit of reading and encourage sustainable book circulation.

No Restrictions on Genre or Size

One of the key highlights of the initiative is that there are no restrictions on the type of books being exchanged. Participants can exchange any book for another, irrespective of the genre.

For example, a religious book can be exchanged for a novel, a biography for a historical book, or a short book for a lengthy one. Readers may even swap a 50-page book for a 500-page one. The only requirement is that the books being submitted should be in good, readable condition and should not be torn or excessively damaged.

A Unique Opportunity for Book Lovers

“This initiative provides book enthusiasts with a wonderful opportunity to part with previously read books at a minimal cost while acquiring fresh reading material. We invite all book lovers in Pune to take advantage of this unique opportunity during the three-day conference,” said Dhanashree Sane, a representative of Pai Granthalaya.