Tripura deputy chief minister Jishnu Debbarman, during the inaugural ceremony of the 37th Agartala Book Fair here on Friday, said the popularity of e-books has not reduced the number of book lovers.

“E-books are coming up owing to advancement in technology. However, this has not lessened the number of book lovers, which is instead increasing with each passing day,” he said.

The book fair was inaugurated by governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at Children’s Park here.

The fair shall continue till February 26.

There are 150 stalls this year — 82 from Tripura, 55 from Calcutta, six from Guwahati, four from Delhi and three from Bangladesh.

Altogether 12 awards have been constituted by the book fair committee this year to be given to people with a proven track record in literary, cultural and social service.

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lifetime Award would be given for the first time to any renowned person in the realm of arts, culture and literature with a prize of Rs 1 lakh.

The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Jatiyo Sanghati Purashkar, carrying a prize-money of Rs 21,000 shall be given for contribution in social service.

The other awards, comprising Rs 21,000 each are Salil Krishna Smriti Purashkar, Sachin Dev Barman Smriti Purashkar, Kali Kinkar Debbarman Smriti Purashkar, Kabi Sukanta Purashkar, Vishmadev Bhattacharjee Smriti Purashkar, Lalan Purashkar, Tripuresh Majumder Smriti Award, Best Publication Award in Bengali and Kokborok and Best Publishers Award.

A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the slain soldiers of Pulwama attack.

Chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb attended the fair as chief guest.

Bengali writer and journalist Pracheta Gupta was the guest of honour.

“Tripura’s literature and culture has been patronised by its monarchs since the days of yore as it was the Maharaja of Tripura who hosted Rabindranath Tagore in his palace. It was the Maharaja who granted financial assistance to renowned scientist Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose while he was doing his research work in London,” Deb said.

Education minister Ratanlal Nath said, “Books are a man’s best friend. A mortal friend would often betray you. But a book will always stand by you.”

Quoting Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, Nath said, “A book and a pen are potent weapons that can be used to change the world.”