So finally got to attend this year's Kolkata Book fair despite hectic duty schedule. It was a magical experience as usual, barring some things that have become something of a trend for last few years...
Whole book fair, starting from its gates to stalls of every single government agency, is studded with gigantic placards of one face and one face only, far surpassing that of vivekananda and even rabindranath! It's not tough to guess who i'm talking 'bout.
I read in a newspaper that 'she hates putting up her face in placards'. It is a blatant lie. Don't tell me those placards have been put up without her knowledge. This is no different from modi putting his fake-smiling face in every single corner of govt advertisements.
Book fair is a place where different political parties set up stalls and sell books explaining their political ideologies and opinions.but it never came to this. This is outright 'marking her territory'! Same concerns were raised during the film festival. Nothing has changed.
And 'jago Bangla' stall is probably the largest single stall save the pavilions. In the back, some books are probably being displayed. In the front however, cultural function is going on at all times. The stall is very popular, and that is because it is an ideal selfie location.
The artist who designed the stall deserves praise; he/she has done an incredible job. Also, the people performing there are awesome. I don't have anything against them. It's only that they are being used to attract people to a stall that would otherwise remain near-empty.
Ok, but, had a lot of fun otherwise. Bought three bagfuls of books and now i may need to live on just dahl and rice the next few days of the month. Some stalls given by some 'irrelevant' people are buzzing with young and aged crowds alike. Just thought ppl need to know.
This stall did not have enough place to accommodate all. A crowd of young students had to wait outside for a good fifteen minutes just to have a look at the books inside. However, the prevailing 'consensus' (dictated by media), has found their ideology 'irrelevant and outdated'. 
This shirt outside SFI stall ❤
Inside of Ganashakti stall.
Outside the stall...me and my sis.
And the parents.
These books used to be one of our favourite during our childhood years.Raduga, progress publications used to have these translated. They have put these on display in the Russian stall. Funny, since the fall of USSR, no more children's stories are being translated like before.
All in all, had a fun day out after a l-o-o-o-ng time. Even thousand placards with that one face could not ruin my whole day (but who knows what future holds). That's the magic we call Kolkata book fair.
