Camongo was at Kolkata’s Favourite Fair recently
It’s a fusion of modernity and tradition with rows and rows of book stalls, non-stop announcements on the public addressal system, and visitors thronging stalls and carrying back bags of books. You can’t miss the food vendors either, with their endless supplies of aromatic savouries, snacks, and piping hot beverages, or the musicians and singers in clusters strumming guitars and singing with abandon. Then there’s every second visitor angling for the best image or making a few quick reels. The exuberance and animation can make you giddy. Almost.
Welcome to the city’s all-time favourite, International Kolkata Book Fair, a fortnight of magical zest when the average city-dweller schedules an afternoon-evening off to join in the high-spiritedness.
The International Kolkata Book Fair starts in end-Jan and continues till early-Feb every year when the weather is just right for extended time out among books, book stalls, and ‘predominantly’ book lovers. We passionately choose to believe that the last category still holds majority share at the International Kolkata Book Fair.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Also known as Boi Mela, it is a non-trade book fair.
- It was established in 1976 and is one of Asia’s largest book fairs.
- It is the first organised book fair of its kind in the country.
- This late winter event sees more than 2 million footfalls every year with the number going up every year.
- International Kolkata Book Fair has been typically themed on a nation every year along the lines of the Frankfurt Book Fair’s ‘Guest of Honour’. In 2025, Germany is the theme country, with the country participating here after a longish spell of time.
- A number of events like book releases, book readings, book signings, and seminars as well as contests for very young readers are held on a daily basis at the premises, adding to the buzz of the atmosphere.
- Official mascots named Haso and Hasi have been unveiled for the first time at the 48th International Kolkata Book Fair. The nerdy mascots are a pair of adorable ducks with large glasses perched on their noses. Here’s Haso and Hasi’s story if you wish to know more about them.
CAMONGO MEETS POPULAR STARS AT THE LAUNCH OF NEW BOOK Dushahosher
Ijara
Gautam Bhattacharya, Journalist and Author – It is an endeavour to bring something new to our readers. Banking and Finance form an important category in India Inc. and exert substantial influence over our economy with bank managers being the backbone of this sector. I don’t remember there has ever been a dedicated volume that details their grave challenges, trials, and tribulations. Here is an attempt to shine the light on the serious issue that senior bank managers face day in and day out. The book is based on incidents that happened in real life. It is not a figment of the authors’ imagination. I have loved reading thrillers since childhood, but here’s the strange realisation with time – that the policeman whom we view with cynicism and distrust can turn into a super sleuth and help mankind as he does in this story.
Anindya Chatterjee, Music Director, Lyricist, Singer, Actor, Director – It feels great to be here for the release of the book. I have been reading Gautam Bhattacharya’s books for several years, he is a friend, and we have also worked together. He has co-authored it along with Debarti, who I got acquainted with on our recent tour to the USA. I am aware she is an immensely popular author in the crime-thriller genre. I am pretty sure I will soon finish this book that has been penned by the two powerhouses. As for memories of Kolkata Book Fair, there are plenty. Most of them are linked with the older Kolkata Book Fair that used to be held at Kolkata Maidan. I have also penned a song around this popular event – Boimela Hoimela – in which there’s a line that says when the fair is old and relocated to the Bypass. Now, it is held in Salt Lake, of course. I love reading all kinds of books – I particularly love reading tales of human subjects.
Pratim D. Gupta, Journalist, Film Critic, Director, Screenwriter – Enjoyed being here. Being a filmmaker, I would certainly like to explore and see if the story has cinematic quality may be converted into a film. Memories of Kolkata Book Fair? Well, the most poignant one is that of accompanying Maa and binging on Benfish’s fish orly! The fragrance of brand-new books on display and sale in the stalls remains fresh in mind. We would buy plenty of books and I can’t pinpoint a favourite amongst them. I remember there was a strong must-visit urge for certain stalls like Dey’s that led to a sense of achievement when I completed the feat successfully! My favourite genre is thriller – murder – mystery.
Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Film Director – I visit the International Kolkata Book Fair each year. This year was wonderful as I got the opportunity to meet and discuss detectives and their modus operandi with some close friends. It was an engrossing talk. The audience was super. I have plenty of memories of this event, the IKBF – matters of the heart! On a more serious note, I remember the Book Fair that was held at the Kolkata Maidan where I would throng with friends and hang out, buy books, hear some great stories from young, upcoming authors. We would exchange stories and form friendships, some that went a long way. I believe this event is one that brings people of different walks of life together, exchange information, tell one another stories. While I love devouring thrillers earlier, I am into reading poetry nowadays.
Biswanath Basu, Actor – It’s an honour to be included in the talk show with the authors themselves. Great to be here amongst friends whom I have known for a long time, worked, or studied with – like Tony da and Anindya da. It was nice meeting personalities like Mr. Hira who I have been just introduced to. Then, there are those some whom I have applauded like Debarti. I personally called and appreciated her work, and here I am today for the release of a book that she has co-authored. The world is a small place and when there’s mutual love and appreciation, there is every chance of coming together. I have plenty of memories of the Book Fair – not to be disclosed openly! (laughs lightheartedly)
Lahoma Bhattacharya, Actor – I am excited to be here for the book launch. It’s undoubtedly a very special feeling as it has been co-authored by my father, an investigative thriller that he has never dealt with as a category. have plenty of memories of the International Kolkata Book Fair that I have been coming to since my childhood. I believe this is beyond an event, it is a festival for us in Kolkata. I remember the eagerness and thrill started months ahead when I was a child. I would start saving all my pocket money to buy my favourite books of the year. Once the book fair started, it was a thoroughly planned schedule. First, I made a couple of visits to cover the whole fair, scan, and shortlist books and their prices. Next, calculate the expenses. Third, strategise how to get the extra revenue out of parents when I realised that my meticulously saved pocket money was sadly insufficient to buy all the books on my wish-list. I loved the atmosphere here – it’s changed and become more interesting thanks to social media, I feel. I hope this event carries on forever.
With inputs from Debosmita Bhattacharya and Neha Karmakar
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