The 19th North East Book Fair, 2017 hosted by All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers’ Association (AAPBSA) is being organised from November 3 to 14 at Assam Engineering Institute (AEI) playground, Chandmari in the city.
This edition of the book fair is dedicated to renowned drama personality Arun Sarma and veteran journalist Radhika Mohan Bhagawati. The temporary stage of the fair has been dedicated to eminent actor and ex-producer of Kohinoor Theatre Ratan Lahkar, and noted film personality Abdul Majid.
Inaugurating the 19th North East Book Fair, 2017, Dr Nagen Saikia, eminent litterateur and former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, underscored the need to address the root causes pushing the Assamese language to the brink. “The younger generation is often blamed for not learning their native language and giving more importance to English language. But the fact is that if the younger generation doesn’t get practically useful materials in their local languages, they are sure to migrate to other languages. In Assam, like many other parts of the world, we have this challenge to preserve and promote our own language,” he said.
Renowned actor Victor Bannerjee, speaking as a special guest on the occasion, said that though the era of colonialism is past, the new imperialism lies in changing the mindset. “We have a tendency to worship the ‘God’ of the marketplace, but need to make our younger generation understand the richness of our own language and culture. Our children should read and relish Srimanta Sankaradeva’s Gunamala, Birinchi Kumar Barua’s Jivanar Batot and many other classical works of Assamese authors,” he added.
The fair has witnessed participation of around 170 book sellers and publishers from different parts of the world including Bangladesh, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ludhiana, Guwahati and other parts of Assam.
Cultural events and interactive sessions with dignitaries of the field including Durjoy Datta, Novoneel Chakraborty, Ratan Thiyam, Manoj Mitra, Binayak Bandyopadhyay, and Aung Zaw are also being organised at the fair.
