World’s largest visited ‘International Book Fair’ concludes in Kolkata
Kolkata, February 12: West Bengal and literature have a very old connection and also Kolkata is known as the cultural capital of the nation. Started from 1974, International Book Fair of Kolkata has spread its light throughout the world. This year’s the fair was the 42nd edition which lasted for ten days and concluded on Sunday.
The Focal Theme of International Kolkata Book Fair this year was ‘France’ the centre of culture of Europe. This was France’s 3rd appearance as Focal theme country at the IKBF. This year on the occasion of the 70th year of the Indo-France diplomatic relationship, the cultural wing of the French Embassy is organizing the Bonjour India Festival in selected cities of India. The Bonjour India festival was started at Jaipur and its closing ceremony was held at the 42nd International Kolkata Book Fair.
International Book Fair is a unique book fair in the sense of not being a trade fair – the book fair is primarily for the general public rather than wholesale distributors. It is the world's largest non-trade book fair, Asia's largest book fair and the most attended book fair in the world. It is the world's third largest annual conglomeration of books after the Frankfurt Book Fair and the London Book Fair.
The popularity of the Kolkata Book Fair was seminal in India being nominated the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2006, according to the Frankfurt Book Fair organizers. The book fair has been celebrated in theatre, literature, songs and limericks in Kolkata.