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| Delhi book fair loses focus |
| No great book launches take place and no popular authors sign away books. In fact, even the publishing industry says its focus is not the serious read
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| INDIA
, 3-September-2007
1:38:30 AM |
| The 13th Annual Book Fair opened this weekend in Delhi and while it has attracted huge crowds, its focus is no more the serious reader.
While it's still an event for families and those who want to spend a day amidst books, the discerning readers find themselves wondering what's there for them in the fair.
There are over 200 stalls and as many publishing houses. Still there is no more variety on offer than what one finds in any upmarket bookstore in the city.
Since this is the 13th Delhi book fair, serious readers are saying ''it's very predictable fare, nothing you don't get at a bookshop.''
No great book launches take place and no popular authors sign away books. In fact, even the publishing industry says its focus is not the serious reader.
''This is an opportunity to network and attract buyers from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to buy books for their countries. We are not looking at the serious reader,'' said Sudhir Malhotra, Director, Orient
''Yes there can be more funds made available,'' said Shakti Malik, Federation of Indian
Publishers.
The big draws are still Rupa, Orient, OUP, Scholastics for kids and a small selection of comic books.
So the organisers have clubbed the book fair with stationery and home appliances to draw in larger crowds.
''I've come here to buy books that concern my area - biology and botany,'' said a visitor.
The aim of the South Asian publishers - the Abu Dhabi and China stalls - is trade and not really the reader in the first place.
Delhi also hosts the international book fair every alternate year which is still a huge draw for the serious reader.
So the organisers say the Delhi Book Fair is meant to be for Indian publishers but many smaller publishers find it unaffordable to have separate stalls here.
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