Lucknow: The sixth day of the ongoing Lucknow Book Fair at Ravindralaya, Charbagh, witnessed a strong turnout, with readers showing growing interest not only in Hindi and English books but also in Urdu literature. Reflecting the city’s rich cultural heritage, Urdu titles attracted a significant number of buyers.
Publishers reported high demand for several notable works. At Vilayat Publications, books like The Status of Women—exploring women’s issues from an Islamic perspective—gained popularity. Readers also showed interest in Islam and Today’s Human by Syed Mohammad Taba Tabai, and The 250-Year-Old Human by Syed Ali Khamenei, available in Hindi. Books on Awadh’s history, including works on Nawab Amjad Ali Shah, also drew attention.
The National Book Trust stall featured Urdu titles on medieval India, alongside books on literary icons such as Ghalib, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Balraj Sahni, as well as political figures like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. A 12-book Urdu set on the history of colonialism at the Green Palm stall also attracted readers.
A major highlight of the day was the launch of the book Afsana Likh Raha Hoon, edited by Dr. Rakhi Bakhshi and Manish Shukla. The book was unveiled by MLA and former minister Anupama Jaiswal in the presence of prominent cultural and academic personalities. The event included discussions on the book’s cinematic themes and literary value.
The fair also hosted a poetry session organized by Sahitya Veethika, where poets including Pratibha Gupta, Nisha Naval, Meenakshi Piyush, and others presented their works.
Under the Navsrijan banner, several books were released, including Pushpa Gupta Dosar’s short story collection Chit Chinmay, poetry collection Bhavanjali Atrang Goonj, and Anil Kishore Shukla’s Mere Ashtapadi Ageet. Literary discussions followed, attended by noted writers and scholars.
The evening concluded with a vibrant mushaira organized by the Meer Taqi Meer Foundation, adding a soulful poetic touch to the day’s events.
The Lucknow Book Fair continues to celebrate literature, culture, and intellectual exchange, drawing enthusiastic participation from readers and writers alike.
