Bibliophiles in Tripura are excited as the 44th Agartala Book Fair, the second-largest in eastern India, kicked off at the Hapania International Fair Ground. Notably, due to political unrest in Bangladesh, no booksellers or publishers from the neighboring country have taken part in the fair since last year.
Since its inception in 1981, the Agartala Book Fair has been a platform for Bangladeshi publishers and booksellers almost every year. This year’s fair, organized by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, was inaugurated by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and will run until January 14.
Chief Minister Saha emphasized the importance of reading books over spending time on TV, mobile phones, or social media. He expressed regret over the absence of Bangladeshi participants in the fair for the past two years due to the situation in their country. The fair, themed “Vande Mataram” in honor of the national song’s 150th anniversary, features over 183 stalls with various cultural events and book launches scheduled.
To enhance the fair experience, free bus services have been arranged by the government for visitors to and from the venue until 9 p.m. Apart from local publishers, participants from Kolkata, Guwahati, and Delhi have set up stalls at the event. Last year’s fair saw book sales worth Rs 1.53 crore and the participation of over 1,700 artists in cultural programs.
