“However internet savvy a person may be but holding a book, reading it and the smell of old books gives a different feeling altogether,” she said adding “ how smart and confident children look when they return home from school holding a book in their hands,” she said.
Banerjee released a book panch bochorer itikatha- udyog o safalyo. Ten of her books including one in English and another in Urdu were released.
Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, president and secretary of Publisher and Booksellers guild Sudhangshu Dey and Tridib Chatterjee shared the dias with the chief minister. Swami Suhitananda, general secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Mission, was also present on the occasion.
Poet Niren Chakraborty said that the enthusiasm of book lovers in Kolkata was more than that of Frankfurt where such a fair is held every year.
The theme of this year is Bolivia. Famous Bolivian litterateur Magela Baudin is the guest of honour. Banerjee remembered the long struggle of Bolivians against the British.
The CM handed over Sahitya Samman on behalf of CESC to novelist Nemai Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya shot to fame for his novel Mem Saheb. The story revolves around the life of a reporter. Uttam Kumar who acted as the reporter and Aparna Sen have immortalized the novel.
Earlier in the day, the CM caught up with the legendary singer Asha Bhonsle at the Kolkata airport. Banerjee told Bhonsle she was a great fan of her music.