The Calcutta Book Fair
The Calcutta (now the more postcolonial Kolkata ) Book Fair is celebrating it’s 33rd year. Unfortunately, however, The Book Fair is not taking Place in The Park Circus Maidan because of the Organisers’ tiff with the Government. The Organisers of the Book Fair are the Publishers’ and Writers’ Guild who have not been given permission to use the Park Circus Maidan.The High Court ruling has stated that the Book Fair cannot be held in the Maidan because of Environmental reasons. According to the High Court,the Book Fair causes too much pollution every year.
When I first heard that there would be no book fair,I was absolutely distraught.To me,the Book Fair has not been just about buying books. I mean,of course,it is about buying books and I am a bibliophile, but the Book Fair is like a Cricket Match or Durga Pujo-it is so inextricably linked to our culture and who we are as people.I understand that the Environmentalists have ample reason to vehemently protest against the pollution that is caused by the Book Fair.But not having the Book Fair is like tearing down a beautiful piece of Architecture just because it is located in an “inconvenient”place.But I suppose that has a lot to do with my associations of the Book Fair.
I’ve grown up in an environment where there have always been many books to chose from.Even before I could read,I’ve been mesmerised by books that would be all over my house.Books in English,Books in Bangla and Some Books were also in Urdu.
My first memories of a Book Fair involve my parents.I was about four years old and since my parents are both avid readers,it was only natural that they would be keen on going to the Book Fair.As the dust gathered up near my feet,I looked around at the myriad of opportunities that lay before me-Books,Books and more books.
My grandfather gave me the grand sum of fifty rupees with which I bought Ha-Ja-Ba-Ra-La by Sukumar Ray* and trotted home merrily.
As I grew older,I would read Tenida,Feluda,Professor Shanku,Roald Dahl,The Asterix Series and Tintin. Slowly,A new World was beginning to unfurl before me.
Many Book Fairs later,I would be reading Neruda and Derrida,sip coffee in little coffee cups and engage in ‘Aantel’ discussions with ‘Kakus’ in jholas and jeans.
The Oxford Book Stall and Rupa and Co Publications always stored my favourite dictionaries and thesauruses.I also remember getting my mother to buy a Huge Dictionary for me from the Book Fair.
I wouldn’t always buy books though. Sometimes, I would sit in a corner by myself,pick up a book and read it from cover to cover,and after I had finished reading that book,I would pick up another book and start reading that.I would continue reading till my mother would holler for me and tell me that it was time for me to go home..
I would also find college students debating heatedly over the latest graphic novel,little knowing that years later,I would find myself doing the same thing.
Sometimes,When it was time for the Book Fair to happen,I would discover to my dismay that all my pocket-money had been exhausted buying jhaalmuri and other things.I would still go to the Book-Fair with a poetic air and chat with the artists who had spread their pride upon the green blades of grass.
I remember the yummy sheesh kebabs, the greasy chowmein that was delectable(only to receive a resounding slap from Ma afterwards),The little Fairs and Rallies and the Little Magazines that could only be found in the Book Fair.
I also remember being lost in the Book Fair once-the year the Book Fair caught Fire.It was a terrifying Experience and many Publishers lost a lot of books.
Every time I think of the Book Fair, I think of my associations with it. The Book Fair is a way of life-not just for me but for thousands of Calcuttans who love their cha, who love their adda and who love their books
© Reeti Roy., all rights reserved.
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