Book lovers in Bangalore have a reason to rejoice with the Kannada Book Authority (KBA) organising a four-day Kannada Pustaka Mela at Ravindra Kalakshetra from Monday. On display will be books on grammar, fiction, spirituality, sports, medicine, and science among others.
Siddalingaiah, chairperson, Kannada Book Authority, told presspersons here on Saturday that this would be the seventh such event being organised since he assumed charge as the chairperson of the authority four years ago.
Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind M. Karjol would inaugurate the mela and writer Hampa Nagarajaiah would be the chief guest.
Enthusiasm
According to Dr. Siddalingaiah, publishers have shown great enthusiasm to be part of the mela and there is a demand to set up more than 100 stalls. “Only 50 stalls were set up during the first Kannada Pustaka Mela, and this time we are planning to accommodate 70 stalls,” he said.
The previous melas received an overwhelming response, and this time the authority has asked publishers to give 25 per cent discount on books. Dr. Siddalingaiah said rent for each stall had been fixed at Rs. 1,000 with refundable deposit of Rs. 1,000. Representatives of publishers would be provided with food and refreshments.
Purchase
Dr. Siddalingaiah said the authority had procured books worth Rs. 1 crore each year in the last four years and published over 200 titles. The authority released 50 books in Braille and distributed among the Blind Schools and District Libraries for free.
Dr. Siddalingaiah said that the authority would release 10 important literary works on February 27.
They are Chavundaraya Purana , Dharmamrutha , Karnataka Panchatantram , Vaddaradhane , Kannada Sharanara Kathegalu , Viveka Chintamani , Chikkadevaraya Vamshavali , Mudramanjushavu , Rajavali Kathe and Ramashwamedham under Prachina Gadya Sahitya Male (Oriental Prose series of Kannada) edited by Dr. M. M. Kalburgi.
