The 48th edition of the International Kolkata Book Fair was inaugurated at the Boi Mela Prangan in Karunamoyee, Salt Lake, on January 28 (Tuesday). The annual book fair that first held in 1976 is Asia’s largest non-trade book fair and also the most attended book fair in the world
All images by Amit DattaThe inauguration was attended by Phillip Ackermann, the ambassador of Germany in India; and Marla Stuckenberg, the regional director of Goethe Institut, South Asia, among others. For the first time in the history of the Book Fair, the theme country for 2025 is Germany
Author Abul Bashar was honoured with the Guild Lifetime Achievement Award by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Joining her was Tridib Chattopadhyay, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild. ‘It brings me immense pride to receive the award from our honourable chief minister,’ Bashar told My Kolkata
In an era of e-books and paperless reading habits, the Guild has taken an initiative to encourage readers to keep the book buying habit alive with an initiative named ‘Buy books and win a Book Library’. A daily lottery will give 15 winners a Book Fair gift coupon word Rs. 1,000. To make navigation easier on the Book Fair ground, the Guild has also launched an Android app designed by Sister Nivedita University. The app and the ground map can be accessed by scanning a QR code displayed at various designated points around the Book Fair ground. In another first, two ducks named Haso and Hasi mascots have been introduced as mascots to welcome bibliophiles at the venue. The Book Fair will be open every day till February 9, from noon to 8pm
A sneak peek inside the German pavilion at the Book Fair — the first-day glimpse shows a pavilion under preparation. The book racks are yet to be filled and stalls will be buzzing with busy footsteps of book lovers from not just Kolkata but neighbouring districts, too, who make it a point to visit the fair every year. Around a thousand publishing houses and little magazines are participating this year. Countries like the USA, UK, Russia, Spain, France, Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nepal will have stalls at the Book Fair
Celebrating the intangible cultural heritage of Bengal is one of the key goals of the Book Fair. To keep the tradition alive, Chhau masks of Purulia and paintings from the Bengal School of Art are on display
The Book Fair will celebrate Senior Citizens’ Day on February 4 with a programme at 4.30pm. Poet Joy Goswami will be felicitated at the event
Artist Jogen Chowdhury at the Book Fair