The International Book Fair here in Kochi between March 1 and 11 and the International Festival of Books and Authors between March 6 and 10, among other things, will focus on drawing the young to the world of books. The twin events will be held on Marine Drive and at the Bolghatty Palace Hotel.
A book for every child is a major focal point and one lakh coupons to buy books worth a total of ₹2.5 crore will be issued during the run-up to and during the festivities to enable the young readers to buy books.
Minister for Cooperation and Tourism Kadakampally Surendran, who addressed a meeting to elicit ideas on the first such festival in Kochi, said the government planned to make the event an annual feature in Kochi and to make it the hub of cultural activities in the world of books and authors. He said Kochi could evolve into a permanent venue for such a festival in the State.
He appealed to people to come forward to sponsor coupons, which would allow young people to buy books and enter the world of books. The book festival and the festival of authors, he said, should be an occasion for young people to walk among books.
The twin events are being organised by the Department of Cooperation and organised by the Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the chairman and writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair is the festival patron.
The book fair and festival of books and authors aim to create a culture of popular festival of literature and to create a space for small-time publishers and publications. The events are expected to help new authors, to introduce new authors to their audience and to underline Kerala as a space for freedom of thought and expression.
The programmes will be inaugurated on March 6 on Marine Drive. There will be over 200 speakers, five venues and more than a hundred sessions on different topics that will have niche spaces for gender equity, labour, subaltern, media and journalism, health, music, emerging technologies, and agriculture.
