Two Hindi books written by coal town-based art critic, littérateur and journalist Abhishek Kashyap, 41, are set to be released during the nine-day New Delhi World Book Fair being organised by National Book Trust from January 4 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The books — Kala Varta and Sahitya Samvad — published by Nai Kitab Publishers, will be released jointly by eminent Hindi poet, writer and art critic Prayag Shukla and artist Nand Katyal on January 7.

“Kala Varta, which is divided into two parts, deals with my interactions with eminent visual artists, vocalists, dancers and art critics. The second book, Sahitya Samvad, exclusively deals with my literary criticisms some of which have been published earlier in Hindi newspapers,” Kashyap told The Telegraph.

Most of the pieces were published in Hindi daily called Hamara Mahanagar where he used to write a column called Sahitya Khomcha.

Sharing details about Kala Varta, he said the first part of the book comprised his interviews with 29 national and international artists that include Hindustani classical vocalist Mukul Shivputra, figurative artist Arpita Singh, painters Jogen Chowdhury and Manu Parekh, Grammy winner Hindustani classical music instrumentalist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, classical singer Shanti Sharma, theatre director Anuradha Kapur, Indian exponent of Manipuri dance Darshana Jhaveri and late actor Om Puri.

“The second part of Kala Varta deals with my criticisms of different art forms that include paintings, installations, classing song and dance,” Kashyap said.

He said Kala Varta will be a 250-page book priced at around Rs 595, while Sahitya Samvad will be of 100 pages and cost Rs 200.

Born in Gopalganj district of Bihar on March 1, 1978, Kashyap is a commerce graduate from RSP College in Jharia. He has written Hindi novel Ham Sab Mahi besides editing a number of books.

He has also translated a number of English books in Hindi, including Ruskin Bond’s Strange Men, Strange Places as Ajibogarib log, ajibogarib jagahen. He is the founder of art organisation India Telling and has served as a curator of a large number of art exhibitions in Dhanbad, Bokaro and Ranchi.