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Bhubaneswar Book Fair gets under way

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Economist Prabhat Patnaik (second from left) releasing a book of translation by Jugal Kishore Dutta during the inaugural function of the 26th Bhubaneswar Book Fair at exhibition grounds on Wednesday.

BHUBANESWAR: A rapidly growing self-centred middle class society has been a serious cause for concern for Indian democracy. Economist Prabhat Patnaik observed this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 26th annual Bhubaneswar Book Fair at Exhibition Grounds here on Wednesday.

Professor Patnaik, who taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University and presently the Deputy Chairperson of the Kerala State Planning Commission, pointed out that the sharp decline in sale of serious books was the outcome of the middle class Indian’s obsession with self development.

“The collective initiative, idealism and thought of social reformation is dead today that has posed danger to our democracy,” he warned and added that books can play a pivotal role in initiating the much-needed social change. “Those who read, think and those who think, read,” he pointed out.

Book Fair Committee president Satakadi Hota stated: “the fair has been the only of its kind in India that is being hosted by a band of writers for the past 25 years.” Taking a cue from him, committee secretary Barendra Krushna Dhal said that the annual fair has brought in a sea change in the publishing industry in Orissa. “While about 150 books were being brought out in the 1980s, nearly 3,000 titles are being released annually in recent times.

The number of book fairs has gone up from just one in 1985 – the Bhubaneswar Book Fair – to 95 across the State last year. The event has become a movement with tremendous public participation,” he claimed.

Four senior littérateurs of the State -- Gaganendra Nath Das, Pandit Madan Mohan Mishra, Rama Prasad Purohit and Amiyabala Patnaik -- were felicitated on the occasion for their significant contribution to Oriya language and literature. A number of books were also released.

Among others, committee members and well-known writers -- Bibhuti Patnaik, Jugal Kishore Dutta, Khageswar Mohapatra and Uttam Kumar Nayak -- were present.

The 12-day fair with about participation of 400 publishers from across the country will remain open daily for public from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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