Other States - Orissa

Book fair opens on a high note

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Book Fair (BBF) that turned 35 this year would be regarded as one of the historic events in the history of the Orissa’s cultural life. Pondicherry-based internationally acclaimed writer Manoj Das remarked this while inaugurating the silver jubilee edition of the BBF at the sprawling Exhibition Grounds here on Friday.

Stating that there could never be an alternative to the beauty of reading books, the celebrated litterateur observed that Indian civilization offered the best of writings like the Vedas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to the world literature and philosophy. “India ranks among the top ten nations of the world in book publishing and it occupies the third position after USA and UK in English books,” he said. Great books can have the greatest of impact on the society; Das pointed out and offered examples of the Uncle Tom’s Cabin that had sparked off the American civil war.

Writers should not resort to populist writings but must consciously strive to change the taste of the readers for better, he emphasised.

BBF secretary and columnist Barendra Krushna Dhal recollected how the fair, the only of its kind in India to be hosted exclusively by a body of writers, has grown up as a movement for promotion of reading and publishing of books in the State over the years.

“We had started with 60 stalls and this year we have 350 publishers across India. Inspired by BBF, the State now hosts 32 annual book fairs in different parts. We are happy that our mission has been achieved,” he said.

In his presidential address, professor Khageswar Mohapatra pointed out that involvement of writers in organising book fairs is a necessity .

A number of books were released during the inaugural evening of the fair. The fair will remain open for more than a week.

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