Viral videos from the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, which concluded on January 18th at Bharat Mandapam, have sparked outrage and debate on social media, with many users decrying what they see as a "moral collapse". The videos show chaotic scenes of visitors scrambling for books, climbing shelves, and jostling each other after some stalls announced they were giving away books for free on the fair's last day.
The New Delhi World Book Fair, organized by the National Book Trust, is considered one of India's top cultural events. The fair featured over 1,000 publishers from more than 35 countries. However, the event was marred by the unruly behavior of some attendees, captured in widely circulated videos. These videos show people rushing towards book counters, climbing over others, and grabbing books as quickly as possible. One video shows a man reaching over a packed crowd to pull books from a high shelf, while others below try to catch them. Other recordings show visitors hurriedly pulling books off shelves and passing them through the crowd, creating a chaotic chain.
The chaos is believed to have started at the Bloomsbury stall after a free book giveaway was announced. The announcement triggered a sudden surge of people towards the counter, with no visible queues or order. Staff appeared overwhelmed as the crowd pressed forward, turning the promotional activity into a difficult situation to manage.
Social media has been flooded with reactions to the videos, with many users expressing disappointment and criticizing the public behavior at the event. Some pointed out the irony of such conduct at a book fair, a space meant to encourage patience and curiosity. One user wrote, "Free books seem to bring out the worst," while another commented, "This doesn't look like love for books, just a rush to grab". Others questioned the value of visiting a book fair if the focus is solely on acquiring free items rather than engaging with the books themselves. Some social media users have gone as far as to label the behavior a "moral collapse," questioning the civility of the attendees.
The incident has also sparked discussions about the commodification of books, with some arguing that books have become commodities to be possessed and displayed rather than read. This perspective suggests that the desire to quickly grab a large number of books, regardless of their content or value, is a reflection of this trend.
While the videos have drawn widespread condemnation, some observers have called for a more nuanced understanding of the situation. They point to the possibility of organizational shortcomings and inadequate crowd management as contributing factors to the chaos. There are also unconfirmed allegations of theft during the event, though these require further investigation.
In the wake of the controversy, many hope that the books end up in the hands of those who will read them, whether seasoned bookworms or opportunistic book-hunters. Despite the negative publicity, some optimists hope that the "Delhi Book Rush of 2026" might inspire some minds. The 54th edition of the book fair is scheduled to be held from January 16 to January 24, 2027.
