40th Kolkata International Book Fair witnesses record footfall

Kolkata International Book Fair witnessed record number of footfall on Sunday with various glittering ceremonies attracting enthusiastic people from not only the city but also from the far off districts. 

The book fair is one of the main centers of attraction during this time of the year which brings in huge surge of book lovers and fun loving people together. 

Even in the time of growing popularity of buying books online among the young generations it stands out to be a unique event where people come to buy books, participate in various programmes. 

Being the first Sunday of the 40th edition of book fair, people started gathering outside Milan Mela Ground from early morning. In the afternoon, there were long queues at the entry points of many of the book stalls. 

Subhankar Banerjee, a state government employee came all the way from Naihati along with his wife and a son. He bought four books — Sei Samay, Kakababu Samagra VI written by Sunil Gangopadhya, a collection of novels by Sirshendu Mukhopadhya’s and Pandab Goyenda Samagra by Sasthi Pada Chattopadhya. “I am a regular reader of Sunil Gangopadhya and Sirshendu Mukhopadhya. 

Every year I come to the book fair to buy the books of my choice. He bought some carton books for his son Souvik who reads in class III in a English medium school in the district.”  

Apart from the focal country Bolivia stall, many others also attracted the public. A stall of the government of Arunachal Pradesh was a popular place as it depicted the cultural heritage of the indigenous tribes. 

It also highlighted the development activities of the government. There was around 180 publications on display. 

People in large number enjoyed delicious food at various stalls. The visitors also enjoyed the performance of the members of ‘Mahiner Ghoraguli’. A book was also published relating to their songs. 

Young college students were hooked on their mobile phones as the Publishers and Booksellers Guild has arranged free WiFi service inside the Milan Mela ground. It has also arranged free transportation facility for the book lovers from Milan Mela to Park Circus. 

It may be mentioned that Kolkata International Book Fair secures third position only after Frankfurt Book Fair and London Book Fair in terms of accumulation of books. The fair was opened on January 27 and it will conclude on February 7.