PBA to come up with directory of little magazines

Kolkata: The Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi (PBA) will soon come up with a directory of the little magazines in the state so that the state government can provide assistance to them in times of need.

"We are presently collecting names and addresses of the little magazines spanning across the state. We are trying to release the directory of the little magazines on February 21, which is observed as Bhasha Divas," said Shaoli Mitra, president of PBA that comes under the aegis of the state Information & Cultural Affairs department.

The matter inviting details of various little magazines has been published in various newspapers and the response has been quite good.

Mitra also informed that PBA is going to hold the five-day Literary Festival & Little Magazine Fair at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan in Salt Lake. The festival will be inaugurated by state Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday, in presence of minister of state for Information & Cultural Affairs Indranil Sen.

The festival that will be held till January 15, will have 300 little magazine stalls and 300 poets, novelists and authors will indulge in book reading and recitation.

25 little magazine publications will be handed over a grant of Rs 25,000 each by the state government during the festival this year, with the aim of ensuring their smooth functioning in the days to come.

"We give priority to promotion of the little magazines as many famous authors

have risen to eminence through contributions to them," Mitra said.

A walk will be organised on Friday from the foot of the statue of Rabindranath Tagore at Central Park in Salt Lake upto the festival venue, with hoardings and banners highlighting the event. The inaugural programme will follow after the walk.

The first day of the festival will host a befitting tribute to late poet Nirendranath Chakraborty.