Jamshedpur Book Fair Draws Admiring Crowds

Explore the vibrancy of Jamshedpur Book Fair 2023 by Tagore Society. Discover encouraging trends, youth engagement, and the joy of books. Join the literary celebration!

on Nov 28, 2023

Jamshedpur Book Fair Draws Admiring Crowds | Frontlist

The Tagore Society's 37th Annual Jamshedpur Book Fair, held at the expansive Rabindra Bhawan Ground, has drawn admiring crowds from Day 1 on Friday, November 24.

As of Day-IV, Monday, November 27, the average number of visitors to the Book Fair in 2023 edition was over 7,000. What was more encouraging to see were children and youth, as well as parents and guardians, exiting from the 67 bustling stalls with books in their hands and happy hands carrying the bags. It gave the impression that the buyers were all eager to get home and start flipping the pages with that 'copyright' smell of fresh pages and printing ink.

"A visit to a Book Fair is always exciting," said Pinaki Roy, a class IX student from Telco Colony. Simply viewing the arrays of books at the many book stalls, selecting some from the neatly arranged shelves and counters, and turning over a few pages of the chosen ones are thrilling in and of itself. They heighten the need for books. Dad purchased me six books on physics, Rabindranath Tagore's short stories, digital photography, pet care, Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers, and Shibram Chakraborty's collection of Bengali short stories."

Seeing Tagore Society Secretary Ashis Chowdhury during his round of the Fair Ground, his countenance brightened as he answered a question. "We were just talking about the status of the 37th edition of our annual endeavour, The Jamshedpur Book Fair, the other day." With the exception of the two years of the COVID slump, the 2023 edition is more than encouraging. When compared to the previous five or six rounds of this ambitious initiative, the response has far outstripped the number of visitors. In reality, during the last few years, we've sustained annual losses of roughly Rs Two lakh. Fortunately, the Tagore Society has a financial buffer, and the show has continued. Our dedication is finally bearing fruit.

What motivates us the most today is the progressive realisation of our theme, which is aimed at introducing more children to the world of books. The sense of books and the treasure trove they generate are lacking in the various electronic media. Books are assets that can be accessed repeatedly. They become a part of family history that can be passed down through the generations. Take a look at everyone. The sight of children of various ages and youth poring over the contents of all 67 stalls, as well as those leaving with books in hand, raises our adrenaline levels. We are all pleased for the benefit of the next generation, which is on a book-love discovery route."

The coolness in the air and the brightness of lights through a misty cloud added to the romanticism of the Jamshedpur Book Fair. A cup of coffee would not have been a bad idea. And the smells of all the chops and cutlets at the attractive cafes whet the appetite. At the 37th Jamshedpur Book Fair, books and bites seemed like a good combination.