27th Silchar book fair begins

Special Correspondent

Silchar: The 27th edition of Silchar book fair begins today in the premises of Bipin Chandra Paul Sabasthal of this town in the presence of an impressive number of book lovers. Autumn and winter are the seasons when the people of Cachar in general get the opportunity to have two book fairs, one organized by Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan and the other by the leading intellectuals of this town. In fact, the book fair organized by intellectuals is initiated by the senior most late journalist and social activist Paritosh Paul Choudhury.

Notable among the torch bearers of intellectuals held book fair is Atin Das, distinguished columnist, writer, poet and former editor of Dainik Jugashankha, who is the president of Silchar book fair committee. Biplob Paul Choudhury, general secretary and son of late Paritosh Paul Choudhury, is the prime organizer. The 12 day book fair which concludes on December 28, 2018, is expected to bring to the book lovers the books of their choice on varied subjects and themes, touching humanities, science, trade and business, stories of adventure and fiction, besides the interesting and enlightening books for children. Among the books will also be those which are now-a-days widely read related to supernatural and detective stories.

As pointed out by one of the organizers, the book fair is organized keeping in view the taste and temperament of those who love to read books and regard it as their hobby or pass time. On the very opening day, the fair is yet to take a complete shape. The book shops which have till now put up their hoardings are Subarnalata, Binidya from Imphal, Shilpakala, Mallik Brothers dealing in Islamic books, Alpana, Dalim Prakashani, Akshar Publications, Ananda Publications and C N Brothers. In all 35 book shops, local and outside, mostly Kolkata based, are in this fair.

Inaugurating the book fair by lighting the auspicious lamp, chief guest Prof Dilip Chandra Nath, Vice-Chancellor of Assam University, hailed the organizers for keeping alive the tradition of holding book fair each year. While expressing his good wishes, he hoped the fair would be a success in attracting large number of readers to have the books of their choice. Atin Das said the main objective behind the fair is to provide the citizens in general the opportunity to have the books of varied themes and subjects at one place. Dr Biswatosh Choudhury, head of the department of Bengali, Assam University, spoke about the significance and importance of holding the book fair.

Prof Partha Sarathi Chanda, former principal of Gurucharan College, regretted the declining interest among the students and teachers to read books. He admitted in this age of digitalization, rampant use of internet, smart phone and other modes of communication, one can have the gist or contents of any book one wishes. Still, all is not lost and the book fair is a means to keep the good habit of reading books. Others who spoke on the occasion included Kabindra Purkayastha, former union minister, Niharendra Narayan Thakur, chairman, Silchar Municipal Board, and M Shanti Singha.

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