World Book Day 2025: Rio de Janeiro and Indigenous Languages Focus

Govind Tekale

April 23 was chosen for World Book and Copyright Day because literary legends Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Garcilaso de la Vega all passed away on this date.

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Brazil's Rio de Janeiro was selected as 2025's World Book Capital for its efforts in preserving literary heritage and boosting youth literacy despite digital challenges.

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The 2025 theme "Read Your Way" focuses on personal reading enjoyment and supports children's freedom to choose books that interest them most.

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Indigenous languages are being preserved through UNESCO's dedicated decade-long initiative, with even a single speaker considered valuable for cultural heritage.

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Books are now experienced in multiple formats including ebooks, audiobooks, bold print for elders, and Braille editions for those with vision difficulties.

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*A unique "hotel of books" was established near Nashik, India, where guests can enjoy food while browsing through books in English, Hindi, and Marathi.

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Literary festivals, book fairs, and prestigious awards like the Bharatiya Jnanpith Award celebrate exceptional authors, with Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla receiving recent recognition.

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UNESCO brings publishers, booksellers, and libraries together annually to discuss how books can be made more accessible to readers worldwide.

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