Lucknow: The ongoing book festival at the Gomti River front has seen a gradual increase in the number of visitors and buyers, and booksellers are quite content with their sales. AmitTiwari from Bodhras Publications notes that the fair is growing in size and gaining popularity year after year. This year, they have experienced a 30% increase in daily sales, and they expect further growth during the long weekend. Tiwari emphasizes that the diversity the festival offers distinguishes it from regular book fairs held in the city.
A representative from the National Book Trust of India (NBT) states that NBT always supports publishers and booksellers by providing exhibition space at nominal, highly subsidized rates. The festival attracts not only adults but also schoolchildren visiting the workshops, who are eager to spend their pocket money on books. The influence of Lucknowiyat is reflected in the buying patterns, where Hindi and Urdu publications are selling as quickly as English titles. Popular series like “Wimpy Kids” and “Harry Potter” are flying off the shelves alongside “Raj Comics” and “My Nachiketa.” Contemporary fiction and mythology books like “The Hidden Hindu” and “Mahagatha” by Hindi authors are selling just as fast as Yuval Noah Harari’s “Nexus.”
Society Needs to be Involved with Libraries for the Promotion of Reading Culture
In an impactful session at LekhakGanj on the role of the state and society in developing book culture, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary of the Tourism and Culture Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Director General of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, highlighted the transformative role of books. He stated, “Books do not only show dreams; reading them brings creativity to life.”.Meshram urged attendees to support book culture by purchasing a book from the festival and praised the NBT for organizing this event. The session was conducted by Shri Rajiv Ranjan, an advocate for fostering library culture.
The founder of the storytelling institute Kathalaya International Academy of Storytelling and Kathalaya Trust, as well as the author of popular children’s books, held an engaging storytelling session with children. She inspired them to explore storytelling with energy and enthusiasm by narrating the tale of a fly that forgot its name, accompanied by songs and animal sounds, encouraging children to stay curious and find answers within stories. In a candid conversation with the organizing team of NBT India, she expressed her pleasure towards their efforts in this direction, stating, “We need to go back to our roots of storytelling through our grandparents to make it more engaging for the next generation.”
Another highlight of the day was the unique “AdlaBadli Quiz – Let Your Teachers Answer the Questions” session, in which children from SaraswatiVidyaMandir, Aliganj, took on the role of quiz masters, questioning their teachers about topics related to Uttar Pradesh’s culture and tourist destinations. Led by Vivek Kumar, this engaging role reversal allowed students to evaluate their teachers based on their responses, with both students and teachers appreciating the refreshing approach of the session.
The third session at LekhakGanj featured poetess Rochelle Potkar, who spoke on “Coins in Reverse: Indian English Poetry for Contemporary Times.” Potkar encouraged writers to explore varied styles and described “thoughts as the sixth sense of a writer.” She advised budding authors to cultivate creativity and maintain enthusiasm, as these qualities are essential for developing a unique voice.
The Children’s Film Festival continues to draw full houses, screening films such as Germany’s “Paul’s Dad and the Right Button in the Head,” India’s “Saoli,” Iran’s “Pari and the Witch,” and America’s “The Double Life of Hugh.” Each film was selected for its meaningful messages and storytelling.
Pawan Kumar Mishra, author of “Hero of Batalik,” held a heartfelt session at LekhakGanj, sharing stories about his friend, Kargil war hero Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, who was posthumously awarded the ParamVir Chakra. Mishra recounted how Pandey’s lifelong ambition was to receive this honor, inspiring the audience with stories of his bravery. He encouraged everyone to read the book to learn more about this extraordinary individual.
On 15 November 2024, Key discussions will include “Uttar Pradesh Library Act and the Use of Books” by the Uttar Pradesh Library Associations and “The Era of Social Media: The Challenge of Credibility and Authenticity of News” by noted journalist Anil Maheshwari, who will address the topic “SatyaYaKahani: Journalism, Storytelling, and Reality and Imagination.” A panel on “My Language, My Literature” by the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) will feature Mohsin Khan and S.Ms. Sabiha Anwar, and SaberaHabib.
At the RangmanchMushaira will celebrate the art of Urdu poetry, with prominent poets such as HasanKazmi, Shahid Kamal, Charan Singh Bashar, and others, and Dr. AmmarRizvi as the chief guest.
