Pune: The book exchange initiative at the recently concluded Vishva Marathi Sammelan saw an enthusiastic response from Pune’s literary community. Within a span of just three days, over 35,000 Marathi books were exchanged, marking a significant milestone for the event.

Organized by the Marathi Language Department of the Maharashtra State Government, the third edition of the World Marathi Conference was held from January 31 to February 2 at Fergusson College Grounds, Pune.

The event featured cultural programs, discussions, and a book exhibition, with the book exchange initiative emerging as a major attraction. This unique initiative was implemented by Friends' Pai Library, Dombivli, which has been conducting a similar program for the past eight years in its hometown.

According to Pundalik Pai, Director of Friends' Pai Library, the library has been active for 38 years and boasts a collection of around 450,000 books. Their book exchange program, held annually in January in Dombivli, allows readers to exchange their read books for new ones.

The initiative, which spans ten days, includes books in multiple languages, with English books forming the largest portion. Impressed by its success, Uday Samant, Minister of Industries and Marathi Language, proposed integrating the program into the World Marathi Conference to promote Marathi literature and reading habits.

This was the first time Pune hosted such a large-scale book exchange exclusively for Marathi books, and the response was overwhelming. Thousands of readers participated, exchanging their books for fresh selections from the available collection. Many attendees also visited the venue to learn more about the initiative.

Storage and Maintenance Costs Covered by ₹10 Handling Fee

Books gathered through the exchange program are stored for a year, requiring rented space for proper preservation. To manage these operational expenses, a nominal handling fee of ₹10 per book was charged to participants, Pai explained.