বাংলায় পড়ুন
Greetings from the Publishers and Booksellers Guild – organisers of the world’s largest attended book fair, the International Kolkata Book Fair!
The 42nd edition of the International Kolkata Book Fair is set to start within 2 months from now. As per the International Book fair calendar it will be open to all from 31st January, 2018 till 11th February, 2018. The fair will be inaugurated on 30th January, 2018 in the presence of our Chief Guest, Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, Smt. Mamata Banerjee and other dignitaries.
You all will be very glad to know that last year inspite of all the evils of demonetisation, 2 million book lovers visited the fair and books worth Rs 21 crores were sold.
You might be able to recall the year 2009, when our favourite International KBF was moved to the underprepared Milan Mela Ground and how big a challenge it was for us to make the Fair successful. However with the love and support of book lovers, the Kolkata Book Fair became immensely successful at the Milan Mela. This year we again have a new address for the IKBF and corresponding new challenges.
The Milan Mela Complex is going to be renovated thoroughly and a new international fair complex, as conceptualized by our Hon’ble Chief Minister will be created there. Our Hon’ble Chief Minister has therefore suggested the Central Park Mela Grounds as the new venue for the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair 2018. Although this ground is slightly smaller than Milan Mela, the infrastructure, accessibility and other logistics are all at par with Milan Mela and hence we have unanimously decided on Central Park Mela Ground as the best alternative to Milan Mela. We would specially like to mention the all-out cooperation and support from our Hon’ble Minister Shri Firhad Hakim and the Hon’ble Mayor of Salt Lake, Shri Sabyasachi Dutta. Under their supervision the entire area will have a total facelift within the 3rd week of December. We sincerely believe that with the inspiration of Hon’ble Chief Minister and with the support of Hon’ble Minister and Hon’ble Mayor and the love of the book lovers, the Book Fair at Central Park will be immensely successful.
The Focal Theme of International Kolkata Book Fair this year will be France - the centre of culture of Europe. This will be France’s 3rd appearance as Focal theme country at the IKBF. This year on the occasion of the 70th year of the Indo-France diplomatic relationship, the cultural wing of the French Embassy is organizing the Bonjour India Festival in selected cities of India. The Bonjour India festival will start at Jaipur and its closing ceremony will be held at the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair.
We have with us today Mr Damien Syed, Hon’ble Consul General of France in Kolkata. He will apprise you in brief about the participation of France at the International Kolkata Book Fair 2018. The detailed information about their participation will be provided in the next Press Conference. Just to inform you that the grand pavilion of France in combination with their literature, culture, films and songs, will be a big attraction @ the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair.
The international complex will also have the presence of UK, USA, Russia, China, Japan, Vietnam, 11 Latin American countries and Bangladesh.
Publishers from the States of India like Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Nagaland, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telengana, Odisha will also be an integral part of the event.
Another important highlight of the Book Fair — 5th Kolkata Literature Festival (KLF) will be held from 8 to 10 February. It will be a collaboration of distinguished writers, directors, historians, authors, theatre personalities, sports personalities, celebrities, film personalities and poets having national and international fame. The days will observe many engrossing sessions, panel discussions on literature, film, drama, music, dance, and many more.
The International Kolkata Book Fair 2017 will be open from 12.00 noon. to 8.00 p.m on all days
