Ekushey Book Fair Essay

 Ekushey Book Fair

Ekushey Book Fair is a grand fair of books which is organised by the Bangla Academy every year in February, the month of language movement. A lot of new books are published on this occasion and people visit the fair to collect the books of their favourite writers, The fair turns into a great festival for the book lovers and cultura] activists. They are inspired by their love of mother tongue and express their emotions through poems and songs. This kind of fair is unique in the whole world. With the combination of the newest books and the cultural activities, Ekushey Book Fair becomes a remarkable event for the people of Bangladesh. This is not simply a fair but also a medium to get in touch with our culture and glorious history. | 

Ekushey Book Fair starts on 1 February every year and continues through the whole month. Makeshift stalls of book are erected in rows around the venue. Only the publishers who have already published sufficient number of books have ‘the privilege to get a stall. The size and location of the stall is fixed with lottery. The stalls are made with bamboo structure, jute carpet and cloth. They are adorned with colourful designs, with the name of the publishing house on the top, which attracts the visitors. | 

Books written by writers of old as well as new generation are brought to the fair for exhibition and selling. The books cater to the taste of all sorts of readers. There are books for the old, youth, feenagers and even for the children. There are books of short stories, novels, poems, dramas and comics. Other books are of research, both in Bangla and English. Bangla Academy has its own stall in the fair, a makeshift one beside its permanent sales centre. Books of creative eavour as well as research could be bought in affordable price re. All the publishers offer special discount on the occasion of fair, 

Most of the publishers that make their presence in the Ekushey gook Fair are Banglabazar-based, the hub of publishing activities in Bangladesh. Among them,. Annyaprokash, Dibya Prakash, Progoti publishers, Bidya Bitan, Mowla Brothers, Asia Publications, Jatiya Grantha Prakashan, Raman Publishers, Oitijja, Banalata Prakashoni, Jagriti Prokashony, Sulekha Prokasoni, Seba Prokashani, Somoy Prokashon, Shikha Prokashoni, Sahitto Bikash, Anannya, Oboshor, Kakoli Prokashoni, Student Ways and Byaticrom Prokashoni are  remarkable. Publishers from other places include Asiatic Society, University Press Limited, Words and Pages, Etcetera and Friends’ Book Corner. All of them come with their best stuffs. They bring new as well as old books. 

Everyone enjoys time visiting a book fair. The whole area is found teeming with the smell of new books. Attractive covers of books catch the eyes of the visitors. Once the readers get close to the books, they can hardly resist the temptation of turning over pages. Some people even start reading in the fair standing in front of the stall. Sometimes writers sit in the stalls of their books to give autographs. They also share ideas with the readers and encourage the new writers to exercise their creative faculty. It is a rendezvous tor the established and emerging writers. 

The fair is always full of people and it becomes excessively crowded during holidays. The fair remains open from morning till night during Fridays, when family members together with their children visit the fair. The first part of Friday is open only for children, who are accompanied by their guardians. During this time children’s books make a good sale. Afternoons are however open for all. February 21 witnesses the maximum crowd. Though there are other programmes on the day around the city, the book fair becomes the main attraction. 

During rush hours, people need to stand in long queue and wait for hours to get into the fair. The line of visitors stretches from the gate of Bangla Academy to TSC on the one side and Doyel Chattar on the other. Though it is not any pleasant experience in the queue, it Shows people’s strong thirst for knowledge. Visiting the fair pushing through the crowd is no doubt tiresome but the hunger for. knowledge protects them from being exhausted. There may also be dug hovering in air but that does not dampen the enthusiasm of the book lovers. 

Books are the main attraction in the fair but not the only attraction, Many cultural activities, like poetry and music, are helq on the Bangla Academy stage, where traditions of the nation are highlighted. Baul and other folk songs are presented to the amusement of the gathering. Discussions on literature and culture are also held throughout the month of February. Famous writers and intellectuals ‘deliver lectures to enlighten the audience. In one stage programme, Ekushey Padaks are handed over to recipients amid the presence of the top intellectuals of the country.

Some food stalls are set up in the fair premises. People take different kinds of fast food like chatpati, phuchka, singara and moglai there. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are also available. Outside the main centre of book stalls, many vendors gather in the adjoining areas and sell their products including bangles, handicrafts and other fancy goods. Various kinds of toys for children are also sold there. On the road outside Bangla Academy, pirated copies of books are found to be sold in cheap price. 

Ekushey Book Fair has a special place in the heart of the young generation. It is always an attractive place for them. They rush there for knowledge and adda. Going to the book fair with family and friends is like an adventure for the young people. Sometimes young pairs come here to present their beloved the books of their taste, making their emotion more intense. They move around the stalls with apparently endless talking. . 

In the Ekushey Book Fair, there is a particular location for little magazines. All kinds of little magazines are sold here. The little mag enthusiasts gather here and gossip among them. The young poets also frequent the place and debate among them on the latest forms of poetry. Elsewhere there is a spot called ‘Lekhok Kunja’ where the . writers sit and talk to the readers. Newly arrived books are often unwrapped here amid huge claps. As soon as a new book arrives, it is announced with mike from the information booth of Bangla _ Academy, | 

Book fair is the mark of plory for a civilized and educated nation. Bangladesh is a developing country but it has that glory. It _ organises Ekushey Book Fair every year to commemorate the contribution of the golden sons of the soil who laid down their lives for their mother tongue, which ultimately culminated in the jndependence of Bangladesh. In the month of February the whole nation wakes up to the glory of Ekushey Book Fair. Bangla Academy square is animated with the movement of book lovers.