News Desk, News Nation 360 : After Durga Puja, the International Kolkata Book Fair is the state's largest celebration. The 47th International Kolkata Book Fair is scheduled to begin on January 18 and run through January 31, 2024. The Hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee will open the fair. Prominent authors, poets, and academics will be in attendance as honoured guests. This year too Salt Lake's Boi Mela Prangan is the venue. It was necessary to move the International Kolkata Book Fair 2024 forward by a few days. This is primarily because the state and central board exams are starting the last week of January and the first week of February. Since book lovers can now take advantage of the extra holidays on January 23 and 26, in addition to the two Saturdays and two Sundays, we think that the fair's new dates are good news for them.
India has close historical, cultural, and diplomatic ties to the United Kingdom (UK), which is the 47th International Kolkata Book Fair's focal theme country. Additionally, the British Council will celebrate 75 years of existence in India in 2023–2024. For a very long time, the British Council has been an essential component of the book fair. When Great Britain was the theme country in 1998 and 2015, just like this year, as well as in 2009 when Scotland was the theme country, they were heavily involved. As is customary, participation in the upcoming book fair includes nations like the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Australia, Bangladesh, Peru, Argentina, and Colombia, among others. Germany will return after a 12-year absence. In addition, publications from various Indian states are included, including Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Telangana, Kerala, Odisha, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and so on. There will be the Children's Pavilion, Little Magazine Pavilion, and other attractions as usual. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, East and North East India and Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director of the British Council in East and North East India. They had spoken regarding their involvement as the main topic of discussion at the book fair.
In the press conference, Publishers and Booksellers Guild has sincerely thanked Mamata Banerjee, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal. She is the first who has identified the publishing industry. Guild delegates accompanied her on a business delegation to Spain at her request. At the Bengal Global Business Summit, the publishers also had the chance to speak at and take part in the Creative Economy session. The three-day Kolkata Literature Festival (KLF), one of the highlights of the International Kolkata Book Fair, will take place on January 26–28, 2024.
Pic - Krishnendu Kundu
