Lucknow: The preferences of the youth have changed with time. The experiences of the stall holders of the twenty-first National Book Fair being held in Balrampur Garden tell something similar.
Abhinav Chhabra, a stall holder with long experience of book fairs, says that today’s youth is liking new literature of new writers instead of old classical literature which is fantasy or the books inspired by which films, web series etc. are being made. Thus new literature is available at almost every stall. Bharat Prasad’s recently published novel Kakulam is being liked by the youth at the stall of Samayik Prakashan. Here, the paperback version of Sahitya Akademi Award winner Ushakiran Khan’s last novel Katha Rajokhar is being sold. Mahendra Bhishma, author of story collections Lal Dora and Kinnar, is signing the books and giving them to the buyers. Hindi literature books are available at discounted rates at Sasta Sahitya Bhandaar stall.
In the events of Mela Manch, a seminar on the subject of nature awareness and environment in literature was organized today by Vishwa Sahitya Seva Trust, Nikhil Prakashan and Madhavi Foundation in collaboration with Mohan Murari Sharma. On this occasion, Dr. Neetu Sharma’s book Hindi ki Mahaniya Vibhutiyaan was released. Here, along with Dr. Neetu, scholars and authors like Nandkishore, Yogacharya Deeptibhushan, VK Mishra, Surabhi Shukla, Raghuvar Anand, Dr. BD Singh, Shivmohan, Anita Arora etc. were honored. Along with the release of the book Mutah: A Research-based Study by Naish Hasan, a strong spokesperson for women’s rights, published by Vani Prakashan Group, a discussion was held on this book under the chairmanship of senior journalist Subhash Rai. In the discussion, Prof. Nalin Ranjan Singh, writer Sabahat Afreen, Samina Khan and Tasvir Zehra Naqvi etc. expressed their views.
Writer Naish presented her views by citing some true incidents and also mentioned the work of another scholar Richa Nagar. In the presidential address, Subhash Rai supported the speakers’ point that such issues need to be seen from the women’s point of view. Evils, whether related to any sect or community, need to be eradicated. Shivani Rakesh’s book ‘Cinema Ko Padhte Hue’ was released in an event organized by Rajkamal Prakashan. In the discussion on this book conducted by Manoj Pandey, along with the writer, storyteller Shivmurti, Rakesh Kabir etc. presented their views.
