And yet come the annual mega-event, and the Maidan air is thick with dust and smell of books. One of the principal attractions of the fair is being able to physically leaf through the books, an experience we seem to be gradually losing. And the books that are ideal for leafing through are those lavishly photographed expensive picture books which you would never see anywhere else - from encyclopedias to numerous magazine et al.
Held generally in early spring, it is a unique book fair in the sense of not being a trade fair - the book fair is primarily for the general public rather than whole-sale distributors. It is the world's largest non-trade book fair, Asia's largest book fair and the most attended book fair in the world. It is the world's third largest annual conglomeration of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair. Many Calcuttans consider the book fair an inherent part of Calcutta and instances of people visiting the fair every day during its duration is not uncommon.
Started on a small scale in 1976 by the Calcutta Publishers' and Booksellers' Guild, Footfall has steadily increased over the years, and is now well in excess of a million. The book fair was started to meet the growing public demand for books, but a relative lack of bookshops in Calcutta. Even though Calcutta now has several large bookshops, beside the book shop district of College Street, the tradition persists and Calcutta Book Fair is growing every year.
Such a fair is befitting in this metropolis, which glows with a rich cultural heritage. It has always been regarded with high esteem for its academic tradition and as a paradise for the connoisseurs of books. The annual book fair has intensified this obsession of Calcuttans and given birth to a 'book fair culture' in the entire state. The fair is multi-faceted and yields positive results. The visitors in the fair get the opportunity to learn and form a notion about the society, culture, economy and heritage of diverse nations and even different states of our own country, of whom, we are otherwise so ignorant and indifferent.
With more than 500 book stalls participating in the fair, single day sales ranges from a lakh to as much as twice a million. The fair also has a typical fairground experience with a book flavour - with the presence of picnickers, singer-songwriters, and candy floss vendors on the fair premises. The book fair has been celebrated in theatre, literature, songs and limericks in Calcutta. One of the salient features of the fair is the huge ocean of people who come from all corners of the city and even from outside. A million people poring over books in half a thousand stalls in an area of a few hectares, is a sight indeed. Come rain or shine, he/she will pay the annul pilgrimage to the Maidan at least once. Some to it many times. Some visit the fair everyday that it lasts.
From book signings and releases with first edition distributions which are held in conjunction with the fair, due to the high visibility of the fair to series of seminars and talks by literati and competitive events for school children like essay writing and trivia sessions, everything is there in the book fair. However what is unique at the book fair is the little stalls.
They are the lifeblood of the event, totally bereft of commercialization, selling books no one could possibly sell in an economically viable way. Newspapers and Periodicals, intent to publicize their entire range and features, find a suitable opening in the book fair. In the center of the fairground is the 'Foreign Complex', which is actually a cluster of all the foreign participants. It definitely adds a new dimension to the book-fair.
The fair brings together many people. People selling books, little magazines handicraft wares, people doing small road skits, singing in a group and what not. And not to forget the “Little Magazines” printed versions of all sold at bargain basement prices.
A large number of people visit the fair grounds just for the experience- taking a look at books from all over India and the world, meeting acquaintances by chance, getting to ogle at celebrities who pay token visits, eating at the various stalls, and just hanging around with friends. Sometimes the magic of the bookfair lay in sitting down on the ground and just observing people.
It is the place to be on a mildly sunny spring afternoon, with your friends, with your parents or with your love. The Calcutta book fair, is more than just an event.
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