About CRD
Building a Nation of Readers.
The Centre for Readership Development is a registered charitable trust promoting literacy, reading and India’s cultural heritage. Along with book fairs in Ranchi, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Samastipur, CRD runs its flagship Patna Book Fair as a literary and cultural hub.
CRD registrations & credentials
CRD’s formal trust documentation is available for institutional, membership and support enquiries.
History & Legacy
From its beginnings at Gandhi Maidan to today’s large public literary and cultural gathering, Patna Book Fair has grown with generations of readers.
Milestones from the fair’s evolving story.
The first Patna Book Fair begins at Gandhi Maidan and plants the foundation of a long-running reading movement.
The fair temporarily moves to the Patliputra Colony grounds before returning to Gandhi Maidan.
The 20th edition is described as spanning roughly 2.5 lakh sq. ft., with as many as 1,000 stalls.
The 41st edition honours storyteller Awadhesh Preet; the attached archive reports more than 100,000 visitors during the opening weekend.
Joy of Reading
42nd edition • 4–15 December • Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
Culture, community & social impact
Books become a public movement.
Families, students, teachers, authors, artists and publishers gather in one of Bihar’s most recognizable cultural spaces.
Building readers
Book fairs, storytelling, school outreach and literary engagement strengthen reading habits.
Celebrating art & culture
Poetry, music, theatre, film and visual art preserve and renew cultural traditions.
Strengthening communities
Readers, writers, educators, artists, publishers and families meet in an inclusive space.
Enabling social impact
Youth initiatives, health programmes, libraries and outreach extend impact beyond the fair.
A culture of reading
CRD’s wider vision is to make books accessible to children, youth and communities by creating libraries and spaces that foster lifelong learning.
Organising Team
Narendra Kumar Jha
Amit Jha
Amarendra Kumar Jha
Akshat Jha
Ruby Jha
Shruti Dev
Amarendra Kumar
Ambika Soni
Apurv
Dr. Prabhat Singh
Dr Vikas Shankar
Jay Prakash
Kumar-Vimlendu
Monika Tripathi
Rakesh Kumar Jha
Ramesh Kumar Sinha
Ratneshwar
Ravikant Singh
Sarita Mishra
