Book Fair Chaos: Crowds Swarm for Freebies

The New Delhi World Book Fair, held from January 10 to 18 at Bharat Mandapam, witnessed scenes of disorder that quickly went viral. Videos captured visitors engaging in chaotic behavior, including rushing book counters and scrambling for books, transforming the literary event into a spectacle of crowding.

The disruption is believed to have initiated at the Bloomsbury stall following an announcement of free books. This led to an overwhelming surge of people, overwhelming staff and making order impossible to maintain.

Social media buzzed with reactions, with many users lamenting the public conduct. Critics noted the irony of such behavior at an event dedicated to reading, with some suggesting the lure of freebies overshadowed genuine interest in books.