CM Mamata inaugurates 48th Kolkata Book Fair with 1000 exhibitors and new initiatives

The 48th International Kolkata Book Fair was inaugurated on Tuesday by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alongside Dr. Phillip Ackermann, the Ambassador of Germany to India, Dr. Marla Stuckenberg, Regional Director of Goethe Institute South Asia, Shri Abul Bashar, and other dignitaries from the Government of West Bengal. The event is one of the largest book fairs in India, with over 1000 exhibitors, including big, medium, small, and little magazines, showcasing a wide variety of books in multiple languages and genres.

This year’s edition highlights participation from numerous countries, including Germany, the USA, the UK, France, Russia, Nepal, Spain, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and several Latin American nations. Prominent national and multinational publishing houses are also featured in the fair, displaying their latest publications. The fair serves as a platform for both international and local publishers to interact with the public and promote their works.

Several gates within the venue are named after cultural icons. These include Salil Chowdhury Ritwik Ghatak Gate, Goethe Gate, Max Mueller Gate, Hackeschen Höfe Gate, Brandenburg Gate, Biswa Bangla Gate, and Jibananda Nazrul Gate. In addition, roads surrounding the fairground have been named after notable German literary figures such as Rainer Maria Rilke, Bertolt Brecht, Franz Kafka, Herta Muller, and Thomas Mann, alongside Indian personalities like Jibanananda Das, Nazrul Islam, and others.

The fair introduces an initiative called "Buy Books and Win a Book Library," in which daily lotteries will be held, and 15 lucky winners each day will receive book gift coupons worth Rs. 1000. The initiative is aimed at encouraging people to read and support the fair’s growth. Additionally, Senior Citizen’s Day will be observed on February 4, at 4:30 pm, where author Joy Goswami, publisher Ranjan Sarkar, and reader Satyabrata Ghoshal will be felicitated for their contributions to literature and reading culture.

For the first time, the fair has introduced two mascots—ducks named Haso and Hasi—who will greet and interact with visitors throughout the event. The mascots are designed to appeal to all age groups and create a fun, engaging atmosphere at the fair.

The fair is expected to attract large crowds throughout its duration, with the goal of surpassing the attendance and sales of last year, which saw 27 lakh visitors and over 30 crore rupees in sales. The fair offers a space for book lovers, authors, and publishers to come together, celebrate literature, and engage in cultural exchanges. The theme country for this year’s fair is Germany, and it provides a platform for both Indian and international literary traditions to be celebrated and promoted.