GUWAHATI, Dec 9 � The North East Book Fair, 2012, organised by All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association, would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at the Chandmari AEI ground on December 30.
The book fair, to be held up to January 10, 2013, has been dedicated to poet Late Hiren Bhattacharyya. The pavilion of the fair has been dedicated to publisher Debananda Baruah and former Chairman of The Assam Tribune Group, TG Baruah.
Addressing a press meet here, the organisers claimed that the popularity of the fair is increasing with every passing year and the 14th edition to be held shortly would witness participation of reputed publishing houses from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ludhiana, Siliguri, Hyderabad, Patna, Agartala and Chennai other than the participation from Guwahati.
The focal theme of this year�s event is Karbi Anglong and discussions would be held on the language, literature and culture of Karbi Anglong at the book fair. The folk artistes of the district would also present cultural programmes to promote their unique culture among the visitors.
The organisers have also invited many eminent writers and scholars to take part in various programmes of the fair. At the inaugural function, journalist Pritish Nandy, National Book Trust (NBT) chairman Setu Madhawan and director MA Sikandar would also take part, apart from State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries. On the same day, a discussion would be held with novelist and social activist Arundhati Roy. On December 31, a statue of Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa would be unveiled on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the Rasaraj, followed by discussions on various aspects of life and works of the legendary litterateur.
The first day of 2013 would be celebrated as Children�s Day in the fair, with various programmes for children in the fair premises.
On Januray 2, Kolkata-based author Partha Chattopadhyay and journalist from Bangladesh Salim Samad would interact with the gathering at the book fair. On January 3, distinguished publishers would be felicitated in the book fair premises. Celebrating the completion of 50 years of mobile theatre in Assam, a programme would be organised on January 4 to felicitate Achyut Lahkar, a pioneer of mobile theatre in Assam.
