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Readers’ corner The DC International Book Fair attempts to cater to all sections of readers

Ravi Dee Cee, CEO of DC Books, who has just returned from the Frankfurt Book Fair, believes that this fair will be the largest of its kind in South India. Says Ravi: “We are organising this fair with great care, keeping in mind regional taste and sensibility of the reading public. Serious literature has many takers in Thiruvananthapuram.

“So, we have included a huge collection of academic literature and books related to emerging areas of studies such as nanotechnology, convergence, artificial intelligence, climate change and cognitive psychology. There is a special focus on the works of Nobel laureates, thinkers, scholars, campaigners. Besides, there is an exclusive stall for all types of dictionaries.”

Malayalam translations of Kamal Haasan’s screenplays of ‘Hey Ram!’ and ‘Mahanadhi,’ and Kamal’s ‘Karutha Pakshikal’ will be released at the fair. “Works by Anand, Jose Panachipuram and George Onakkur would be the main attraction in the fiction category ,” says A.V.Sreekumar, publication manager of DC Books. ‘Parinamathinte Bhuthangal’ is a passionate journey by Anand back to the city, Mumbai, that served as the backdrop for ‘Alkkuttam,’ his celebrated novel written 50 years ago. Jose Panachipuram’s ‘Anjathante Suvisesham’ has the specialty of being a Biblical re-work with a difference while George Onakkoor’s ‘Parvathangalile Kattu’ has Indira Gandhi as the protagonist.

“Parvathangalile Kattu’ is a historical novel based on the life of Indira Gandhi. I have presented Indira Gandhi as an Indian woman, a struggling personality; one who succumbed to a great deal of solitude. K. Karunakaran will release the book, which will be received by B. Sugathakumari,” says Onakkoor. ‘Manjakkannada,’ an interview with Mammooty by Unni R, and Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘The Gardener,’ translated into Malayalam as ‘Udyana Palakan’ by former Chief Secretary Lizy Jacob are some of the interesting titles that will be available at the fair.

One day would be dedicated to Tamil literature. Kanimozhy Karunanidhi, MP, will be present for the release of her book ‘Karukkunna Mailanchi.’ An English-English-Tamil Dictionary by Devi Ranga Swami and ‘Thirumandram’ by Thirumoolar will reach the shelves on that day.

The Fair will celebrate Kerala Day on November 1 in association with the National Book Trust of India. ‘Disakal,’ an anthology of post-Independence Malayalam poetry, ‘Kaivazhikal,’ an anthology of short stories, ‘Thiranottam,’ an anthology of plays, and ‘Keralam 50 Varsham: Sambhashanangal,’ edited by A.Sahadevan, are some of the books that will encapsulate the State’s literary scenario. Another highlight of the fair would be the release of the special silver jubilee edition of Balachandran Chullikkad’s first poetry collection ‘18 Kavithakal.’ The occasion will be a reunion for the team of Rachana (K.V. Thomas, V.G. Thampy and Jose T. Thomas) who published ‘18 Kavithakal’ in 1980.

Says Chullikkad: ‘“18 Kavithakal’ was my first book, a collection of poems that I wrote between the ages of 18 and 22 when I was a student of Maharajas College. The book was published by Rachana, a students’ group, on 14 December 1980. The next year, Dee Cee Kizhakkemury decided to publish it himself. At that time, I was more or less an orphan. Kizhakkemury Sir gave me moral, emotional and economic support.”

Other events planned are competitive events for students. “There will be a reader’s corner where children can choose a book and pen a review, the best of which will be put up for display. Workshops on street drama, newsletter, wall magazine and radio content production, competitions in film review and mobile photography have also been included,” says Tomy Antony, regional manager (South).

Leading publishers such as Cambridge University Press, Penguin Books, Macmillian, Orient Longman, Random House and Harper Collins will also participate.

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