The 49th edition of the Chennai International Book Fair has opened its doors, promising a literary feast for the city's bibliophiles. This year's event, inaugurated by Chief Minister M K Stalin at the YMCA grounds in Nandanam, places a special emphasis on attracting younger audiences with a vast array of illustrated books, novels, and science titles.
Free Entry and Extended Hours to Boost Footfall
In a significant move to encourage wider participation, the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) has made entry to the fair completely free this year. Previously, visitors had to pay an entry fee of 10 rupees. The fair will run for 15 days, until January 21. R S Shanmugam, President of BAPASI, stated that the decision was based on public demand and aims to increase footfall dramatically.
"We expect this to bring more readers to the fair," Shanmugam said. "Based on requests, we also decided to keep the fair open on all days from 11 am to 8.30 pm." To facilitate easy access, the organizers will operate mini buses to ferry visitors from Saidapet and Nandanam to the venue. For entry, visitors need to scan a QR code and register, a process similar to booking cinema tickets but without any payment.
A Paradise for Young Readers and New Publishing Trends
With 980 stalls at the event, translated works and children's literature are dominating the scene. Publishers have noted a marked shift in focus. D Aravindan, a new publisher at the fair, observed that all publishing houses have given unprecedented importance to children's books this year, launching more titles than ever before.
"Previously, not many writers pursued children's literature. This has changed in the past few years, with children's books moving fast at book fairs," Aravindan added. Reflecting this trend, the fair features an exclusive area for kids with daily events and quizzes designed to engage them.
CM Stalin's Call for a Reading Culture and Awards
During the inauguration, Chief Minister M K Stalin made a passionate appeal to the youth, urging them to cultivate a habit of reading. He highlighted the reading culture he observed abroad and called for a similar change in Chennai.
"When I visit foreign countries, people read books in parks, public places and during travel. We are not seeing such reading here. This has to change," Stalin said, advising youngsters to spend at least one hour daily with a book. He also distributed the prestigious Kalaignar award along with a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees to Tamil writers, honoring their literary contributions.
In addition to the literary offerings, the fair venue will also serve as a point for issuing the chief minister's health insurance card to eligible persons, adding a layer of public service to the cultural event. The combination of free entry, a focus on young readers, and extended hours sets the stage for what could be one of the most accessible and vibrant editions of the Chennai International Book Fair yet.
