Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 12 Jan: Against the backdrop of Krishnagar’s long literary legacy, the 41st edition of the Nadia District Book Fair opened on Monday at the historic Krishnagar Collegiate School ground, turning the town into a vibrant hub of books, ideas and cultural conversations. Coinciding with National Youth Day, the inauguration lent the fair a symbolic resonance, blending the spirit of Swami Vivekananda’s ideals with Bengal’s enduring love for literature.
The fair was formally inaugurated by Ujjal Biswas, minister of state, in the presence of Krishnagar MP Mahua Moitra, Nadia zilla parishad saha-sabhadhipati Sajal Biswas, district magistrate Aneesh Dasgupta, MLA Alifa Ahmed, SDO Sharadwati Chakraborty, noted litterateur Swapnamay Chakraborty and eminent writer Tamal Bandhapadhyay, among others.
Organised by the Nadia District Library with support from the state government’s Mass Education Extension and Library Services department, the fair aims to promote reading habits while providing a platform for mainstream publishers as well as little magazines.
Speaking on the occasion, district magistrate Aneesh Dasgupta underlined the cultural thought behind the fair’s design and theme. “Today is National Youth Day, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, whose spiritual teachings continue to inspire lakhs of people across the world,” he said. “To commemorate the 150th year of Vande Mataram, the main stage has been named after Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.”
Mr Dasgupta added that five decorative pylons or gateways have been erected across the Krishnagar town in honour of iconic personalities who shaped India’s social and cultural consciousness. “These pylons are dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, Begum Rokeya, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Dwijendra Lal Roy and Suniti Chattopadhyay,” he said, noting that the fair seeks to connect readers with both progressive thought and literary heritage.
The book fair will continue till 18 January and will remain open daily from 12.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. This year, as many as 82 publishers are participating, with a total of 117 stalls set up across the venue. Special space has also been allotted to little magazines, offering alternative voices and experimental writing to a wider readership.
Apart from book sales, the fair will host daily cultural programmes and discussions on a range of literary, social and contemporary issues, making it not just a marketplace for books but a lively forum for dialogue and reflection.
With its blend of tradition, youth-centric ideals and literary diversity, the Nadia Book Fair once again reaffirms Krishnagar’s place on Bengal’s cultural map.
