Kolkata: Demonetisation has affected the sale of books at the 41st International Kolkata Book Fair 2017. This is the largest book fair in the world in terms of retail sales. The sale of books down by 20%, an official said.
Tridib Chatterjee – the General Secretary of the organising body, Publishers & Booksellers’ Guild, told reporters that the sale of books was Rs 16 crore till last night.
He said that this is 20% less than the sale during the corresponding period last year. Last year an estimated Rs 25 crore sale was reported in the book fair till the last hour of closing.
The 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair will have France as the friend country and be held from January 31 to February 11 next year.
Chatterjee said that we people of Kolkata and Bengal share the affinity with France. We both love music, appreciate art and buy books including poems. We are honoured to have France as the friend country next year for the book fair in the City of Joy.
Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs and Country Director of Institut Francais India Dr Bertand de Hartingh and Consul General of France in Kolkata Damien Syed represented France.
The two referred to the deep-rooted friendship between France and India and said the French Republic was privileged to be declared the friend country of 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair, the city of Tagore and Satyajit Ray.
This year Costa Rica, a peace-loving nation, was the theme country of the Book fair.
A city-based organisation -Argobbhawva donated T-shirts to sanitation workers at the Book Fair today for their untiring effort to keep the venue uncluttered.
The fair was inaugurated on January 25 by Chief Minister of West Bengal – Mamata Banerjee. The fair will formally end with the ceremonial ringing of the giant bell at 9 pm today.
