Sojourn to Book fair!

My sojourn to the International Book fair on the first day @ Pragati Maidan, on a chilly breezy day was full of topsy turvy experiences. Every section, perhaps, had its ups and downs. As, all saw the golden period brimming with book lovers, they also experienced the gloomy time of absolute abeyance.

Talking about the wonderful and beautifully crafted theme “Kathasagar”, it allured the children with its books with bright hues, animated pictures, lovely rhymes and good content. Situated at hall 1, a lot of options to captivate the mindset of a kid. Alas, I hardly saw kids rushing and shouting .The hall saw a lull throughout the day. Probably, it’s time for each and every one us to unveil the beauty of books to our kids. The collection of international books was diverse and well organized. From its journals to different variety of notebooks, there was much to explore.

Good point, the government had made very well disciplined arrangements. From systematic ticketing, proper frisking to ample food and the bus service till 8 had helped people a lot, especially the infirm and kids. They provided not even a slightest move for consternation.

Talking about Books! From century old to the newbies, draped in beautiful creative hues, from Urdu to Sanskrit, From Bonjour to Ohayō, from idioms to grammar, from John Grisham to Cecelia Ahern, from economy to governance, from India to the world, from engineering to mass communication, from one year old to the 90s, from LGBTs to the constitution, from IELTS to learn Italian, the book fair had all you can crave for!

Publications.. Some were missing, some were embellished. Amazon had a huge kindle theme, Harper Collins had extensive collection loved by all. Ratna Sagar, National Book trust boasted their Desi collections, Penguin, as always was tenacious for the crowds. The lovely pile of classics, from George Orwell’s 1984 to George Eliot’s Middlemarch were the must for a bibliophile. Scholastic, Diamond books had vast academic collection, Cambridge was all about the English stuff you missed about grammar and comprehension. However, Bloomsbury, Arrow, Wordsworth, Hachette, Collins were missed!

“Authors Corner” was a well-planned area to convene the book lovers with the authors but honestly, it failed to lure my slightest attention to that corner of the hall. Hopefully, it has more in the coming days. Ruskin Bond graced Ratna Sagar and was jolly being autographed by kids.

The experience was mind boggling and profligate. Watching the young, closely scrutinizing the books and actually setting aside a budget for the books was amazing. Way to go for the world of book lovers from a gamine, inchoate industry to the most precious and loved by the kids, young and old!