Assam Book Fair begins in Guwahati

Assam Book Fair (2022-23) begins with fanfare among the book
lovers in the region on Thursday. Jointly organised by Publication
Board Assam and All Assam Publishers & Book Sellers Association at
Assam Engineering Institute playground in Chandmari locality of the
city, Asom Granthamela was inaugurated by the reputed Indonesian
performing poet Tara Noesantara on 29 December.

Guwahati: Assam Book Fair (2022-23) begins with fanfare among the book
lovers in the region on Thursday. Jointly organised by Publication
Board Assam and All Assam Publishers & Book Sellers Association at
Assam Engineering Institute playground in Chandmari locality of the
city, Asom Granthamela was inaugurated by the reputed Indonesian
performing poet Tara Noesantara on 29 December. She appreciated the
culture of book reading among the common people in this part of the
world and later performed a poetic cultural show along with a
co-artiste with traditional Indonesian flavour.

The inaugural ceremony also witnessed the release of 15 valuable
books, published by the State publication board, in presence of Assam
government’s education department-adviser Dr Noni Gopal Mahanta,
eminent author Dr Govinda Prasad Sarma, State publication board
vice-chairman Sumanta Chaliha, secretary Pramod Kalita, publishers &
book sellers association president Nagen Sarma, former president Imran
Ahmed, etc. Prestigious Asom Prakashan Parishad Sahitya Bota-22 was
presented to Assamese author Dr Pranabjyoti Deka in the same function,
where Ranjan Sarma, publisher of the collection of Dr Pranabjyoti
Deka’s best stories, was also awarded.

The splendid book fair, which will be open for book appreciators and
common people till 9 January 2023 next, has given space to over 150
book stalls (publishers) from northeast India along with Kolkata, New
Delhi, Punjab, where 10 publication houses from neighboring Bangladesh
are also taking part. A number of events relating to new book releases
and literary discussions are scheduled in the 12-day festival where
every evening the audience will be enthralled by performing artistes.
The cultural programs on the first day, where a number of young people
took part, was directed by popular artistes Manoj Barua and Purabi
Sarma.

The publication board, which was created by the State government in
1958 with the aims of sponsoring, encouraging and assisting in the
literary field of activities, had organised Guwahati Book Fair in the
city since the Eighties where the then publication secretary and
eminent author Chandra Prasad Saikia took the lead from the front.
Lately the State publishers & book sellers association used to
organise North East Book Fair in Guwahati. Last year, State chief
minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took an initiative to merge both book
fairs into one and thus Asom Grantha Mela was born in 2021. Meanwhile
it has been expanded to other localities of Assam namely Dhemaji,
Jorhat and Bongaigaon.

Speaking to this writer, publication secretary Kalita informed that
the first edition of Assam Book Fair was a successful initiative as it
did a brisk business of around Rs five crore despite the Covid-19
guidelines. This time, he stated that there are no specific corona
restrictions till now, but the organisers remain in touch with the
government for any advisories. The closing ceremony will be addressed
by State education minister and publication board chairman Dr Ranoj
Pegu with a number of dignitaries.