The Book Fair Chronicles

@ nb

I agree to some extent. But a section of Bengalis still exist for whom books, films, and cultural activities remain important. Having grown up in such a milieu, I always sort of believe in this.

As for the masses who have gone lowbrow and unsophisticated, I have no clue how to address this.. According to me, culture and erudition is something that has to be inculcated from an early age, it simply cannot be forced down the throats of people who are not interested in it. To each, his own.

@Shoaib

Like I said, changing the venue of the book-fair is still a very controversial subject.Even I had extremely fond memories of the maidan book fair, and was upset that it got moved but this years venue wasn't that bad overall, considering yuba-bharati as an alternative.

Shifting it to the bypass was nothing but a load of tripe—or so Calcuttans known to me say and I agree although the last one I attended was a good 5-6 years back. There is no other place I can imagine the mela to be other than in the maidan.

Of course, I have extremely fond memories of the place. I used to collect money received on my b’day on and parbi on Eid and save it all up for the book fair. I still have those books—Feluda's and Holmes' adventures, Ruskin Bond's pahadi tales and many, many Christie novels. Ah, good times…

To the writer: Bengalis are becoming increasingly downmarket and lowbrow. Gone are the connoisseurs of film and theatre. There is a pervasive lack of sophistication. How do you propose this should be addressed? Do you think it needs to be addressed at all?

@nkg

thanks for the comment;you are quite right.. there is a huge part of the crowd for whom chicken chowmein is a greater attraction than books.. but for the present situation- the maidan is no longer the venue of the book fair- which is again a subject of great controversy, anyways , the new venues are smaller and much difficult to commute to.. (this year was near science city), so what happens is people who end up there are REALLY after books, as bookstalls are much more prevalent that food stalls and anyone who's not a bibliophile wouldn't take such a pain to go to the fair for food only. So all in all, it's an improvement:).

@ Delirium

thanks again for the comment. keep reading. Hopefully I'll have better articles in the future.

Aahirini,
as per my knowledge (I used to throng KBF upto 1998), the most popular stalls in KBF are food stalls. Otherwise, it is nice experience. The old bengali culture was to have a personal library in each household. Somehow, that vanished now. Now, all the 3rd grade movies of Mithun Chakroborty and stupid tele serial is favourite passtime.

Good to see it on the FP.An absorbing read, sweeping expression and amazing narration.

Keep writing!