Lockdown: No 'Boi Utsab' this 'Nabo Barsha'
The 'Boi Utsab' organised by Publishers andBooksellers' Guild was not held on April 14, the Bengali newyear due to the lockdown in force.
President of the apex body of publishers in state,Tridib Chatterjee told on Wednesday that publishers wouldlook at this occasion for bringing out new titles, coveringdifferent fictional/non-fictional subjects and there was greatenthusiasm among Bengali readers.
"While we were going ahead with the plan andpublishers like Dey's Publishing, Mitra O Ghosh and otherswere all set to bring out several new titles, there were thequick, swift developments from mid-March triggered by thepandemic and before we could firm up an alternative plan, thelockdown started. All of us are now staring at a big loss," hesaid.
Apu Dey from Dey's Publishing said three of theirimportant titles for Nabo Barsho release - which included acompilation of all literary works of late Bengali poet-writerBuddhadeb Guha, with the first volume slated to be publishedin this Poila Boisakh, the collection of all novels, includingunpublished ones, by writer Buddhadeb Guha - were ready forbinding when the lockdown began.
"Thousands of such printed contents are now lying atthe binding units in central Kolkata which are locked as theemployees havie left for home in villages or are stuck indifferent parts of locked down city," he said.
Over 20 new Bengali titles were scheduled to bepublished by Dey's Publishing at the mini book fair duringNabo Barsho at College Square area, adjacent to the hub ofbooksellers and publications - College Street.
Chatterjee said his Patrabharati publications wouldhave come up with several new titles and three of these titleswere at the binding unit when the pandemic alert set in andall the units suddenly shut down.
"Around four lakh people - small time booksellers, workers and owners of printing units and bindingunits, small time publishers, not to mention about biggerpublishers and their staff - are in serious crisis in theemerging situation and we are desperately looking for asolution," he said.
Dey said since non-text and reference books don't fallin the category of essential services, "we are not able todeliver online orders and make up the loss."
Chatterjee claimed Kerala government has includedonline delivery of non-text books in the essential categoryduring COVID-19 lockdown.
"We would soon approach West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee with a similar plea. Books help to shape ourviews, knowledge, and curiosity about life and enrich usmentally. Can't books be considered an essential part in ourlives," he wondered.
Asked when the unpublished books can hit the stands,Chatterjee said, "we have plans to release our five titlesduring foundation day celebration of our publication inAugust. Dont know what others will do. But we are lookingforward to improve the situation first."
A spokesman of Mitra o Ghosh Publishers said, "we hadplans to bring out several new titles during this time.Nababarsho used to be an important occasion for years for ourold publication. And this new book event at College Street hadgiven new thrust in the Bengali book publishing business forpast six years to counter the threat from e-books. But coronahas suddenly changed everything."
Guild sources did not give a specific figure aboutlast year's book sales during week long Naba Barsho event butsaid there were decent sales in 80 stalls .
Publishers said the tradition of authors, publishersand booklovers assembling at College Street on the first dayof the Bengali New Year to have a debate on literature overfood and music at the offices of different publishers hadstarted in the 60s, which witnessed a declining trend since2000 but still continued.