Curtain falls on Barak book fair

 FROM OUR Correspondent

SILCHAR, Dec 5: The effect of demonetization on Barak book fair 2016 was easily seen as there were only a handful of bookstalls and customers were very few in number. However, a number of books and magazines written by eminent writers of this Valley were released on the concluding day of Barak book fair 2016 which started on November 25 was organized by Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan. In his iugural speech, Gautam Prasad Dutta, organizer of the book fair and president of the central committee of Barak Banga, said that demonetization has played the role of a villain in this year’s book fair.

Gautam Prasad Dutta further said that a number of publishers failed to turn up even after they had promised to do so. Speaking as the chief guest in one of the book release function, Vice-Chancellor of Assam University, Professor Dilip Chandra th said, “I am utterly disappointed to see the less number of bookstalls and people’s apathy book reading. Young generation is not showing any interest in reading books.” Taimur Raja Choudhury, editor, Samayik Prasannga, said how it was difficult for them to organize the book fair sailing against the wave. He further said that in order to inspire and encourage students’ participation in the fair, a meeting with the principals and head teachers of various schools was called on October 19, but not a single teacher turned up to attend the meeting.

Professor Dilip Chandra th released Boi Kotha and Bhasha O Sanskriti which is a contemporarily published academic paper of this year’s edition. In addition, on the completion of 100 years of Shree Bhoomi newspaper, special edition of Prabha and Saddol were released by Ishwar Bhai Obadhiya, senior mager, Rosekandy tea garden and Dr Amalendu Bhattacharjee, noted literary figure. Tirthankar Chakraborty, a resident of Hailakandi was felicitated for securing 1st class 1st position in Master of Arts in Bengali this year. He was given the Anurupa Biswas Memorial Award.

Shiksha Jagoter Alo Adhaar, a book written by Sanjib Deb Laskar, president of Silchar Sheher Anchalik Samiti, noted litterateur, historian and research scholar, was also released by Dr Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, former Vice-Chancellor of Assam University. Among others present on the occasion included, Nitish Bhattacharjee, president, central committee, Barak Banga, Tamojit Saha, Paritosh Dey, secretary of the organization’s district committee, Amit Sikidar, programme coorditor, Prof. Dilip Dey and Punyapriyo Choudhury, publisher and printer.