Kolkata: After a hiatus of a year, Kolkata is hosting the annual International Book Fair again this year, raising the enthusiasm of book enthusiasts. The West Bengal capital could not organize the popular event last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) on Monday.
This year, the Kolkata Book Fair has Bangladesh as the theme country as it enters its 50th year of liberation from Pakistan.
Banerjee said on the occasion, “You (Bangladesh) have Nazrul (Islam) and we have Rabindranath Tagore as our national poet. But he cannot be divided by any division.”
He also paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, considered the founding father of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Minister of Cultural Affairs KM Khalid was present on the occasion, and thanked the book fair authorities for focusing the special year on their country.
He also urged the officials of the book fair to take a pledge of world peace during the event as a tribute to the victims of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Incidentally, Russia has also set up stalls at the book fair.
Read also | ‘Accept my unconditional support’: CM Mamata Banerjee asks PM Modi to hold all-party meeting
No protest outside Russian stall: CM
The fair has stalls from various publishers, organizations, political parties and other countries.
Banerjee inaugurated Trinamool Congress mouthpiece Jago Bangla and stalls of Kolkata Police and State Police. According to reports, at least 10 of his books are being sold at the fair.
Apart from Bangladesh, countries that have set up their stalls at the book fair include Britain, America, Italy, Japan, Iran, Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Russia.
In the wake of Russian invasion of Ukraine, CM Banerjee said that no one should protest in front of a Russian stall. He said that India believes in peace and we need to maintain the dignity of our country.
She said she has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that India conclude a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
“We are with the efforts being made to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. Our stand against war is clear.”
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Banerjee said India wants peace and should lead efforts to end the war.
“We have seen a two-year war against Covid. There should be no more wars. The world should see peace now,” she said.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to PM Modi “acknowledging his unconditional support during the current international crisis and considering holding an all-party meeting”.#RussiaUkraine conflict pic.twitter.com/8prFDsil4v
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2022
Kolkata Book Fair to continue in Salt Lake
Meanwhile, the permanent fair ground at Milan Mela, Kolkata, still under renovation, Kolkata Book Fair will continue at the Mela Ground in Central Park, Salt Lake. Banerjee proposed that the site be renamed “Boi Mela Prangan (Book Fair Ground)”.
He expressed happiness that IKBF 2022 has been recognized by International Publishers Association, Geneva, as the event has been included in the calendar of book fairs published by it.
The Kolkata Book Fair will continue till March 13.