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| Kolkatans hold 'token' book fair |
| As a mark of protest, the book lovers held a token book fair at the controversial venue.
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| INDIA
, 1-February-2007
3:2:58 AM |
| Over the last 30 years, the Kolkata Book Fair and the Maidan had become synonymous, because the 28-acre ground was where the fair was annually held.
So, when the High Court banished the fair from the venue this year on grounds of environmental damage, some Kolkatans were hurt.
As a mark of protest, the book lovers held a token book fair at the controversial venue.
"I feel it is very successful, Kolkata Book fair 2007 has got underway today. What can be better than this?," said Mrinal Sen, Filmmaker.
"It's amazing. But I am not surprised. I know Kolkata, I know the people of Kolkata and I known people love book mela. I am so happy that so many writers came and so many readers came. We come here for the readers," said Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Writer.
Environmentalists oppose
Environmentalists have been crying themselves hoarse for years over holding the book fair at the Maidan.
While the High Court saw merit in their argument, book lovers feel relocating Asia's biggest book fest is hardly a solution to the burning issue of pollution.
"Now, there is all this talk of environmental pollution. Kolkata is a highly polluted city. If the book fair is not held here, will pollution levels go down in Kolkata?," asked Taslima Nasreen, exiled Bangladeshi writer.
"According to me, the ground on which the book fair is not to be allowed at the Maidan, is unjustified. If ultimately the venue has to be shifted, the problem doesn't go, problem remains. Even if the book fair is held somewhere else would the pollution go down," said Bikash Bhattacharya, Mayor, Kolkata.
In a battle between environmental considerations and sentimental ones, environment has won the day.
But the sentiment attached to the Kolkata Book fair is so strong that even at the risk of offending the High Court, Kolkata's literary giants ere there as a token of protest.
This may not materialise into anything but at least the sentiment would have been heard.
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