Belying Publishers’ & Booksellers’ Guild’s (Guild for short) firm belief and contrary to expectations of many (including me), the Kolkata Book Fair this year is a resounding success at the new venue at the sprawling peripheral area of Salt Lake Stadium complex at Kadapara on EM Bypass.
The area of the fair is spread wide, has multiple entries, all from Bypass, is connected well from all corners of the city and suburbs, and more importantly, there is almost negligible dust pollution. Throngs of people are moving about, soaking in the ambience as usual, which doesn’t give any impression that the Guild must suffer any pang of guilt.
But suffer it does, and one hears there is a childlike vow to return to a ‘city’ venue next year. It’s a ‘struggle’ for them to fight for what is their ‘due’, which is to hold the fair anywhere along the route the metro takes. Since Maidan is out of bounds for good, the Guild is trying to hold next year’s fair at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium.
Here are some collections from the fair. They range from BESU students demanding INI status (Institute of National Importance) to rock-climbing to a smallish near-empty US pavilion to the one showing northern end of the fair with Hyatt Regency forming the backdrop. Also, enjoy a video treat of bauls singing at the fair.
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