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Assam Book Fair Relocates to Khanapara Amid Flyover Construction

The Assam Book Fair 2024, relocated to Khanapara, runs from Dec 27-Jan 7, uniting bibliophiles and literary communities despite venue challenges.

on Nov 21, 2024

The Assam Book Fair, a cherished event for bibliophiles, will be relocated to Khanapara this year due to the ongoing construction of the GNB flyover in Chandmari. For over a decade, the Assam Engineering Institute playground in Chandmari had been the fair's vibrant venue, where visitors indulged in books, literary discussions, and the lively winter ambiance enhanced by nearby tea stalls and food kiosks.

The 2024 edition of the fair, organized by the Assam Publication Board, is scheduled from December 27 to January 7 at Khanapara, about 10 km from Chandmari. This move marks the first relocation after the merger of the Guwahati Book Fair and the North East Book Fair in 2021. The fairs previously were hosted at iconic locations like Judges' Field in Guwahati before Chandmari.

Assam Publication Board Secretary Pramod Kalita explained that shifting the venue was necessary to prevent disruptions from the flyover project. "Organising the fair at Chandmari would cause severe inconvenience to people and organizers and create heavy traffic congestion in the city," he stated. Invitations to booksellers and publishers are underway to ensure the fair’s success.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the fair's legacy in promoting an intellectually stimulating environment. In a social media post, he highlighted the initiative’s role in connecting Assam's literary community with national and international networks and urged readers to support the event wholeheartedly.

Earlier this month, a book fair organized in Duliajan received a warm response, and fairs in Nalbari and Jorhat are currently underway, drawing bibliophiles from across the region.