Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Retaining some old-world fantasies is a huge challenge when technology is out to provide modern-day comforts at your fingertips. Conservatives would swear by books and would hate to replace them with any convenient gadget as they become ecstatic… feeling the books, leafing through the pages, breathing in the typical smell of the printed pages – be they old or new. Innovations can’t make its way through some innate things and these things only intensify with time. But the pain point is either you are born with some kind of antenna to experience such bounties of life or you are just plain unlucky. Like the intellectualism of the Bengalis and also their <keyword id="2052955" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Love-for-books">love for books</keyword>! How else would you explain the sheer addiction to books, books and more books and yet the event draws more than 2.5 million <keyword id="456096" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Book-lovers">book lovers</keyword> every year? 
 <keyword id="100667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata-book-fair">Kolkata Book Fair</keyword> is now well into its late 30s (<keyword id="793067" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="KBF">KBF</keyword> celebrated its 38th birthday this year) and witnessed huge crowds milling around the stalls, set up by about 109 publishing houses operating in India. The book fair was a 13-day affair this time – from the inauguration on January 28 to the closing ceremony on February 9. Interestingly, KBF is the world’s <keyword id="2052986" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Largest-non-trade-book-fair">largest non-trade book fair</keyword>, which means it essentially caters to the general public, instead of wholesalers. So it’s no wonder that the who’s who of the Indian and global literati are mostly here at the plenary sessions. <keyword id="6360497" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Peru">Peru</keyword> was the theme country of 2014 but Peruvian poet <keyword id="2052952" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rodolfo-Hinostroza">Rodolfo Hinostroza</keyword> and Peru’s cultural minister <keyword id="2033619" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Patricia-Balbuena-Palacios">Patricia Balbuena Palacios</keyword>, who were to inaugurate the event, could not attend the <keyword id="6363379" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Opening-ceremony">opening ceremony</keyword> following the political situation at home. 
 In actual terms, <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> is one of those states in India which has a high concentration of <keyword id="54033" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Scholars">scholars</keyword>, <keyword id="6498302" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Academicians">academicians</keyword> and <keyword id="105357" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intellectuals">intellectuals</keyword>. As social movements are often fuelled by the litterateurs and <keyword id="60303" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Leftist">Leftist</keyword> overtones exist there among the so-called intellectuals, it could have been the prime reason why <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> Book Fair has remained a non-trade affair throughout these years. 
 Organised by <keyword id="2052951" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata-Publishers-and-Booksellers-Guild">Kolkata Publishers and Booksellers Guild</keyword> and largely supported by book lovers, the annual event had some tough times when <keyword id="26497" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="environmental-issues">environmental issues</keyword> compelled it to leave the Maidan greens (near Park Street-Rabindra Sadan) at the centre of the city. The fair was shifted from the Maidan area in 2007 and finally found a home at the <keyword id="532071" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Milan-Mela-ground">Milan Mela ground</keyword> opposite Science City. 
 By now, readers must be feeling curious about the hottest selling books at the event. The 38th edition of the book fair was inaugurated this year by none other than <keyword id="670521" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chief-minister-Mamata-Banerjee">Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</keyword> and (believe it or not) her books turned out to be best-sellers even this year. A <keyword id="2052958" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="regular-writer-and-a-poet">regular writer and a poet</keyword>, Mamata started writing in 1995 and has penned 45 books so far. Last year, her books worth Rs 10 lakh were sold, earning her a royalty of Rs 1 lakh. This year, the sales are supposed to shoot up even further as new books penned by her had been released on the inauguration day. 
 Yet, all might not be well at this global gathering of great minds. Just as it happened at the Jaipur Literary Festival two years ago, <keyword id="25391" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Salman-Rushdie">Salman Rushdie</keyword> was stopped from participating at the Kolkata Book Fair last year. And do you know the irony of it all? It’s the <keyword id="2052997" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Author-CM">author-CM</keyword> who might have played a key role and stopped the internationally acclaimed but equally controversial Rushdie from coming to the event. 
 
It was said at that time that Rushdie himself had decided to stay away from the event. The author, however, had reportedly told he was informed by the government that the protests against him could be ‘dangerous.’ Photos, too, had swarmed the Internet, featuring hundreds of men brandishing placards that said ‘Rushdie Go Back.’ 
 
It’s understood that Mamata, who was touring North Bengal at that time, had told the police commissioner she didn’t want Rushdie to land in the city. And the reason was obvious – she didn’t want to antagonise the minority community if she could help it. 
 
The whole drama of not hosting Rushdie was played out in many shades and across many episodes. When finally it was learnt that Mamata was completely against Rushdie’s participation at the book fair, the grave concerns around his security and the gravity of the situation (with the number of protestors increasing every day) were conveniently played up to persons in charge of Rushdie’s itinerary. Then the easy way rolled out by itself. The statement issued to the media read: The ‘author decided to stay out of the event’ for reasons known to him. And Mamata had won her game. 
 This way, the world’s largest book fair held a mirror to India’s so-called democratic values and assured <keyword id="60937" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fundamental-rights">fundamental rights</keyword>. But never mind. <keyword id="5258" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="CM">CM</keyword> Mamata’s books have turned her into a literary sensation over the years. And it’s quite an indicator how the scale is tipping in the <keyword id="2053000" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="World-of-literature">world of literature</keyword>. 
 
Image: Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Kolkata
Book Fair: Leafing Through The Pages In The Era Of E-readers

<ul><li>Books worth ₹60 lakh were found either torn or wet all over <keyword id="403902" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="College-Street">College Street</keyword>, Asia’s largest book market, as per current estimates. </li><li>A number of booksellers were seen picking up the damaged books from the flooded street in Kolkata after <keyword id="8409001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyclone-amphan">cyclone Amphan</keyword> destroyed the market. </li><li>Many of the booksellers have decided to open a grocery shop after the lockdown ends. </li></ul>Kolkata’s historic College Street, Asia’s largest book market, was flooded with muddy water and battered books for over a day after an extremely severe cyclone Amphan passed through the city on May 20. More than 5,000 trees, along with a few hundred electric posts, traffic signals and police kiosks have been uprooted in and around Kolkata. The death toll due to cyclone Amphan in West Bengal has risen to 77 as authorities are busy restoring the normal life thrown out of gear by the region's worst weather disasters. Here is the look at what’s left of College Street, also known as Boi Choi, in Kolkata: Boi Para, popularly known as College Street, is a long 1.5 kilometre market with a huge collection of books. Books worth ₹60 lakh were found either torn or wet on the street as per current <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/amphan-ravages-college-street-as-heartbreaking-pictures-of-devastation-emerge/articleshow/75876506.cms">estimates reported Times of India.</a> <div type="image" title="EYi9ZltXsAAHGdj" msid="75892228" hostid="261"></div>A number of booksellers were seen picking up the damaged wet books from the flooded College Street after cyclone Amphan destroyed the market. They intend to dry the books and sell them at a second-hand price. <div type="image" title="EYi9ZDFWkAIPvGw" msid="75892262" hostid="261"></div> Avi Sarkar, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/amphan-ravages-college-street-as-heartbreaking-pictures-of-devastation-emerge/articleshow/75876506.cms">who sells Boi Choi books online</a>, said many small shops lost their roofs and their books were floating in street water — leaving publishers devastated. <div type="twitter" handle="aniketmishra299" handlename="Aniket Mishra" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/980719875663437825/O6cL5j6Z_normal.jpg" favoritecount="254" retweetcount="87" status="This broke my heart - aftermath of the cyclone Amphan on the book market in College Street :/ https://t.co/I5NeGnOMJq" createdat="1590070875000" id="1263474943033049094"></div> These booksellers were already distressed as shops were closed for nearly two months amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Many booksellers from Boi Choi have now decided to open a grocery shop instead of bookstores, after the lockdown ends. <div type="image" title="cf25b93c341866a15a518f867e28b84c" msid="75892477" hostid="261"></div> SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-india-hiring-50000-jobs-available-for-delivery-guys/articleshow/75888254.cms">Amazon India has opened up 50,000 ‘seasonal’ jobs for the post-lockdown surge in e-commerce demand</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/checkout-the-datesheet-for-isc-class-12th-and-icse-class-10th-exams-from-july-1/articleshow/75890632.cms">ICSE class 10th and ISC class 12th exam dates announced — students have to wear masks and carry sanitizers for the tests</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/interest-payments-on-home-loans-car-loans-and-others-extended-by-another-three-months-by-rbi/articleshow/75884387.cms">No EMI payments for six months as RBI extends moratorium on loans repayments till August 31</a>

Cyclone Amphan wipes out Asia’s largest book market, College Street, in Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 15 () The lockdown imposed to controlthe spread of COVID-19 pandemic has hit the sixth edition of'Boi Utsab' (mini book fair) in which over 300 new Bengalititles by big-time and small publications were slated to hitthe shelf on 'Bangla Nabo Barsho' (Bengali new year).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.As part of the effort to revive the tradition, Guildstarted the Nabobarsho Boi Utsav on 2014 and this was thefirst time that the Boipara wore a desolate forlorn look. SUSRG RG

You Searched For "Kolkata Publishers and Booksellers Guild" and got 3 results

Kolkata Book Fair: Leafing Through The Pages In The Era Of E-readers

Preetam Kaushik

Cyclone Amphan wipes out Asia’s largest book market, College Street, in Kolkata

BI India Bureau

Lockdown: No 'Boi Utsab' this 'Nabo Barsha'

PTI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides