BANGALORE: Technology may have reduced the burden of carrying the paper-backed books around on one’s back, but the hard-bound still has its loyal fan following, after all, a book ‘is’ a man’s best companion. Testifying this is the ongoing Bangalore Book Festival in Palace Grounds — on till November 27.
“I am a voracious reader. I do read online, but the feeling of holding a book and breathing in the smell of ink on paper is an experience that is almost intoxicating. No e-book can come close to replicating that emotion. Books are literally the best companions that one can ever have or ask for and holding it in your hand while flipping through the leaves with your imagination running wild with the characters coloured and sketched by your own cognitive, only strengthens the bond between a book and the reader,” said Vishali, a visitor at the book festival.
The festival that began on November 18, has seen a ticket sale of over 60,000 in less than a week. With over 300 stalls stretching all the way into the dinning area, it is a treat for any book worm. Spread across an expanse of 2.50 lakh square feet, one can probably find any book under the sun in almost any Indian language. From rare to second-hand, spiritual to fiction, technology to children’s book, it is all there.
Barring books, one can also spot stationary, video CDs, and a handful of stalls selling accessories such as bags and cartoon stickers. Adding a few more feathers in the cap of the 9th edition of the book festival is the fact that even though the book may not be readily available at the stall, one can order it and have it delivered to the door step (delivery charges are at the discretion of the vendor). This year also sees the addition of the Braille books to the collection up for sale.
“The edition bears testimony that reading is gaining momentum. This year we have a huge number of publishers, who were keen on exhibiting their books. Unfortunately we could accommodate only 330 stalls,” says Venkat Shastry, creative director for The View Finder and one of the organisers. Shastry mentions that there is no fixed criteria to put up a stall at the festival, it is on first-cum-first serve basis.
While the focus of the book festival is promoting Kannada and children’s books, there are books available in languages like Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi as well. Publishers from across the country are participating in the fest. Apart from Bangalore-based publishers, the venue also has over 10 lakh books from Delhi and Mumbai based publication houses and book vendors. Another enthralling feature is the discounts available on the books. While the newer books are sold at the MRP, the older ones are being sold at 10 to 50 per cent less than the market price.
Organised by the Bangalore Book Publishers and Printers Limited (BBPP) the agenda of the festival is to provide the readers with simple and easy to read along with inculcating and encouraging the habit among all age groups. Devaru Bhatt the secretary of BBPP informed City Express of the plans that are brewing for the next and the upcoming book festivals.
He said, “Unlike last year, this year we have compiled a list of contact numbers of most of the publishers and book vendors for the visitors. They can call and make a purchase over the phone itself and have their books delivered to their doorstep. Next year, we will also start a facility that will allow readers to give us their old books in lieu for new ones. The old books will be donated to underprivileged children. We are also planning to make it an international festival."
According to another organiser, while last year saw a business of Rs12 to 14 crore, this year, it is expected to see rise to almost Rs17 crore.
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