PRESS RELEASE: 06th January 2010 PRESS CLUB, KOLKATA BACK |
Dear Members of Print and Electronic Media,
At the very outset we take this opportunity to extend to you our heartfelt best wishes for the New Year
The 34th International Kolkata Book Fair 2010 is almost upon us. With regard to the last minute preparations we would like to share with you the following information:
1. Inspite of the various assurances given to us by authorities, the developmental work of the Milan Mela Prangan is yet to be completed. Provisions have been made for drainage and drinking water supply in some spots and an incomplete toilet block has been erected in the very heart of the fairground. We are aware whether this will be completed before the inauguration of the fair. The same is the situation with the food park area of the fairground. This requires extensive cleaning and dressing.
Over and above it is most unfortunate that the construction work of the underpass or footbridge that was supposed to be set up to enable visitors to easily cross J B S Haldane Avenue has not been taken up. Considering the plight of the millions of booklovers we are distinctly worried. However, we hope that the police and the administrative authorities will deal with the problem with the same efficiency that they displayed in the previous year.
2.The fair will be inaugurated in the Milam Mela ground at 4:30 pm on 25 January 2010. The young popular writer of Mexico Senor Jorge Volpi will inaugurate the fair. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, will be the Chief Guest. The Hon’ble Finance Minister of the Government of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, may be present as the Guest of Honour. The Hon’ble Minister of Culture of Mexico Ms. Consuelo Saizar will be present as the Guest of Honour. The respected Mayor of Kolkata Shri Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya will be present as a Special Guest. Our favourite author Shri Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay will be present as a Special Guest and representative of the community of littérateurs.
3. At 4:30 pm on 27 January the Award Ceremony will take place in the UBI Auditorium of the fairground. Inspite of our severe financial constraints Publishers & Booksellers Guild in fulfillment of its commitment to literature and culture will give three special awards.
I. The Lifetime Literary Award carrying a Prize value of Rs 2 lacs. This will be conferred to the renowned author Shri Sanjib Chattopadhyay.
II. The Promising Author Award carrying a Prize value of Rs 1 lac. This will be awarded to Shri Chanchal Kumar Ghosh.
III. The Promising Publisher Award carrying a Prize Value of Rs 1 lac. This will be awarded to Gangchil Publishing House.
4. The first day of the Kolkata Book Fair 27 January 2010 will be the Mexico Day. On the one side various functions and seminars organized by the Focal Theme Country Mexico will take place while on the other Mexican music will be played throughout the day over the audio system in the fairground.
5. The special Closing Ceremony will take place at 9 pm on 7 February 2010. After the formal closure of the fair a performance of Mexican folksongs and dances will be staged by famous performers from that country..
6. On the occasion of the Book Fair a Mexican Film festival will be held from 17 January at Nandan and Rabindranath Tagore Centre.
7. Various types of Mexican food will be available from a stall in the food court in the fairground. A famous Chef from Mexico will be coming to India with their indigenous recipes and ingredients for the purpose.
The Kolkata Book Fair is our pride. It is the International identity of our city. We heartfully appeal to all of you and to the millions of booklovers of Kolkata to come to the Milan Mela Prangan and join the International Book Festival.
Thank you all.
| Asok De | Tridib Chattopadhyay |
| President | Hony. General Secretary |
