In the heart of Hyderabad’s vibrant cultural landscape, the NTR Stadium grounds in Indira Park, Secunderabad, have transformed into a pulsating haven for bibliophiles from December 19 to 29, 2025. Amid the AI-driven era of ChatGPT and instant queries, this 11-day extravaganza draws lush crowds. It’s like the golden days of book-loving excitement are coming back- pages turning eagerly in people’s hands, with the real authenticity of books winning out over AI algorithms. The fair buzzes with diversity, catering to readerly and writerly whim. Stalls overflow with Telugu mythologies that weave ancient spics into modern narratives, gripping novels that transport visitors to uncharted emotional realms, and stacks of competitive exam books arming aspirants for battles ahead. Children dart between designated anime corners, their eyes widening at vibrant manga worlds that spark Imagination. Young Authors, writers, and artists, passionate trailblazers in their prime- stand proudly beside their creations, engaging crowds with tales if personal triumphs and unfiltered creativity. The air hums with banter, a symphony of discovery where serendipitous finds forge lifelong loyalities.
Yet, this year’s edition stands out with a bold infusion of progressive art, courtesy of the collective called The Progressive Artists’ League. This isn’t your staid gallery affair; declare the movement’s ethos, a mantra that resonates deeply. Progressive art spills beyond elite concrete spaces, adorning street walls and roadside canvases to make culture accessible to all. Here at the fair, these works- raw, provocative, and purpose-driven—challenge norms, igniting discourse on inclusivity and expression.
What elevates this league of artists is its duality. Not just where the art lives, but who consumes it. Pedestrians, daily commuters, and fair-goers alike pause amid the bookish bustle, absorbing messages that provoke thought on social justice, identity, and urban life. This street-side intimacy fosters conversations that galleries rarely spark, turning passive viewers into active participants. The fair’s environment, already a book lover’s paradise, now pulses with visual poetry, blending literature’s depth with art’s immediacy. In this, we are showcasing, the role of art is important for society, not just for an individual. The artist captures everything from society. Amidst their activity in Delhi, the league commenced to showcase itself in Hyderabad as well. One of their inspiration and working styles is capturing raw moments from the working class, and through art, they showcase their work to them. The galleries are put outside their working places and on the way they are moving. This proves that “For a common man, the walls are the galleries.” Taking art out of people. Art wants to be relevant here by showing their life on those canvases.
Appreciating art is woven into our very nature—it’s not reserved for the privileged few, but meant for everyone to cherish. As the verse beautifully puts it: ‘Bhookhtho Kavita ki honichahiye, roti ki nahi’—hunger should be poetry, not just bread. Yet, so many feel that deep craving for art but lack the luxury to indulge it. Everyone deserves access to its beauty, as natural and freely available as the splendor of sunrise.
A dusk falls over Secundrabad, the fair glows like a beacon against digital ephemera. In an age questioning information’s veracity, it reaffirms books, and now progressive art, as anchors of truth and revolution. For Hyderabad’s tribe of readers and dreamers, these grounds aren’t just an event; they’re a revival.
Canvas Rebels in the House of Pages; Hina, Sreeja, and Mahipal bring the Progressive Artists League’s street-smart revolution to Hyderabad Book Fair 2025- Where walls meet words, and art hungers for all.
Art that whispers revolution from the shadows- ‘Revolution to be brought’ boldly etched, letting the canvas roar. By Hina, Progressive Artist.
