‘Book fair promoting sub-standard literature than habit of reading’

Visitors at a Germany stall during the 48th Kolkata International Book Fair, in Kolkata, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

The oldest existing bookshop in Kolkata has come down heavily on the city’s book fair, saying the “once-glorious” event now promoted poor quality literature through numerous book-launches rather than promoting the habit of reading.

Arabinda Dasgupta, the managing director of Dasgupta and Co., founded in 1886 on College Street, was never a big fan of the Kolkata Book Fair, having opted out of it way back in 1980, because he believed that the event, by dragging for too long, was eating into the book-selling business on College Street. This year, he happened to visit the fair because the release of a book published by Dasgupta and Co. took place there and he came out of the venue with his views against the event only stronger.

“I recently attended the 48th International Kolkata Book Fair, and I cannot help feel sorry and maybe a little agitated too. Over time, this glorious affair has turned into utter chaos,” Mr. Dasgupta, one of the credible voices in Bengal’s publishing business and perhaps the only one of that stature to be critical of the iconic event, wrote on social media.

“As someone who is well aware of the scenes behind this book fair, the process of allotting the store plots seems unfair to me. Some of the most lucrative spots, like the ones near the entrance gates or so, are always occupied by the same stalls every year, which is greatly unfair towards other sellers. I feel everyone should get a fair chance and be included under a lottery system,” he further wrote.

The Publishers and Booksellers Guild, which organises the fair, did not react to his remarks. Mr. Dasgupta seemed more unhappy this time with the large number of book launches taking place this year; according to him the fair was now more interested in promoting books, irrespective of their quality, rather than promoting the habit of reading.

“In my life working as a publisher, I have seen writers spending year after year writing a book, constructing it word by word. I was taken aback this time when I saw books at the fair that had been written in weeks or a month. Shockingly, these are being greatly popularised through eye-grabbing promotions while actual good writers and books are neglected,” he wrote.

Mr. Dasgupta added, “The primary aim of a book fair has always been the promotion of not only good authors and books but also to encourage more people to read. While I understand the craze of social media posts, the fair seems to have lost its main point. Popular culture has its place amongst all, but I don’t think the fair should become mere showbiz.”

The bookseller-publisher later told The Hindu that he was not against the fair but the manner it was being conducted. “Only some particular publishers are given stalls in prime locations, near the gates for example, and their sales surpass that of others by 40%. And the event is now all about promotion. Sub-standard books are being promoted. You write a book in a few weeks, get four celebrities to launch it, invite friends and family to buy it, promote the event on social media — and the book gets noticed. There are writers who are launching several books at a time. I am told someone released 21 books together! I think in future there should be a filtering in place.”