The Chennai Book Fair to Commence from January 6; Stall to be Provided for the Transgender Community

The committee has agreed to provide the transgender community a stand this year so they may display their creations

on Jan 02, 2023

The Chennai Book Fair to Commence from January 6

The BookSellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, will host the 46th edition of the Chennai Book Fair at the YMCA Grounds near Nandanam in Chennai beginning on January 6.

The event will be inaugurated by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and end on January 22. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, the minister of school education, is also scheduled to attend. The fair's hours would be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Publishers from over 40 countries are anticipated to attend an international book expo that will be held at the same location from January 16 to January 18.

S K Murugan, secretary of BAPASI, addressed the media and stated that despite receiving numerous requests from writers and publishers to display their works, they are only able to accommodate 800 booths owing to space limitations.

"The committee has agreed to provide the transgender community a stand this year so they may display their creations. We are grateful that the government arranged for the international book fair to coincide with the Chennai Book Fair. This year, we anticipate increased attendance since we will be able to continue the fair beyond the Pongal vacations, which will encourage more people who will be returning to Chennai to attend the event.

On the first day, CM Stalin will honor notable writers and publishers with the BAPASI literary prizes, including the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Porkizhi award.

Numerous writers from different states and organizations that support literature, including the Thanjavur Tamil University, the National Book Trust of India, the International Institute of Tamil Studies, and the Sahitya Akademi of the Centre, will also take part in the event.

Murugan denied claims that the annual book fair's allocation of booths is based on caste and claimed that the problem occurs when members want more booths. "They say we are not giving them any stall at all, which is not the truth," he stated when we clarify that there are space limitations and we cannot distribute more than one booth.

The Covid-19 protocols that were followed last year will be followed this time as well, according to the organizers.