Circa 1976 Kolkata will host the 34th Book fair on 27th January 2010. The theme will be Mexico The three countries. Mongolia, Canada and China will be partner countries. again the annual gala event from 26th of January that lasts well over ten days. The fair has already attracted record footfalls and sales.The ‘Publishers and book sellers guild’ are the organizers of this fair. More than 20 nations are participating this year exuding an international fragrance . A ‘Book fair culture’ has been germinated all over the state, mere mention of the book fair or boi mela in Bengali transcends one to a hysterical maniac. Book worms or not, KBF evokes spontaneous reaction to many a people. Do all visitors are genuine book lovers or wear a makeshift garb. Is the established hype justified? Let us take a look.
It will be hard to describe an annual fiesta held at the cultural capital of India, mecca of intellectuals, pavilion of sports lovers and a state of freakish adda seekers. In Kolkata, unlike all its counterparts in India and the whole of the South Asia, KBF is the most revered and cherished festival to reckon with.
TAKE ONE : Chaos, maddening crowd that jostle to get an entry, frowning octogenarians, svelte and elegant ladies, blaring mikes, bunch of college yuppies, over[enthusiastic] children and section of media trying to catch the best voice over or penning the best story.
TAKE TWO : Steamy syrupy earthern cups or bhar of tea, fish kabiraji, kutlet, discussion on Roger Penrose, or queue up to watch Benjamin Zephanian. What Cuba has to offer now? Or what US is upto?
Avid readers, web surfers, business magnets, movies buffs, celebrities, politicians, educationists, bibliophiles all bump into each other during the KBF. In Kolkata books still talk to people. Despite a changed profile and skyline, buying a book still is considered necessity. A walk around the stall for any regular visitor will vouch, a full fledged exploration, a peregrination with intent . Young poets and writers enjoys their minor celebrity status with a platform of little magazines. France as the focal theme and partner country and the guest country is Spain. Britain, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Bangladesh, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Cuba &other Latin American countries, EU ( European Union ), world bank, WHO and publishers from UK, Denmark, Oxford university press Pakistan, and the Macmillan UK will grace the occasion. The price conscious and a less consumerist Kolkatans religiously streamline into this annual pilgrimage with spirit.
14.5 acres of a total space area is jotted with marquees, tents, makeshifts stall. The Eiffel tower demarcating at the entrance gives an international feel. KBF cut across the regional barrier, enormous mob-movement coaxing with each other exuberates a mixture of happiness and curiosity. The aura is filled with a mixture of different music, dust & ever dominating confusion that consistently prevails with authorities maneuvering crowd movements. KBF is serves a purpose more than just selling a book. Percussionist Bikram Ghosh says, " I love to be at Kolkata book festival. A cultural nostalgia feeling surfaces every time I am there. It is like Durga puja. A festival annually performed." He equated KBF to a large shopping mall where a visitor ends up buying at least something even if he doesn’t intend to. Pradyumna Sarkar, a last year's participant KBF says, " KBF is a platform for young talent like us. The OTS (Oppurtunity to see) of our work is high, but there are few takers." He remembers how he ended up selling terracotta artifacts, which were much in demand than their little magazines.
Book reading and television or websurfing has different dimension altogether. One enhances creative thinking and the later restricts. Actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty says, " Book fairs is a must. The habit of book reading should be inculcated and it happens gradually and specifically from these fairs. CD Roms, PC's are alright, but they do not leave a vaccum if you do not come across them for a day, in contrast of a newspaper."
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