For book lovers, it is probably the only place where they can expect to find a trove of titles pertaining to a diversity of subjects. For publishers, it offers the biggest platform to showcase their wares.
Another group has also always looked forward to Chennai Book Fair — pavement booksellers.
The ongoing annual Chennai Book Fair has now left this small section disappointed.
For the third year, they have been denied permission to set up stalls outside the YMCA Grounds, Nandanam, which is the venue.
“The Book Sellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPSI) members don’t want us to set up shop anywhere near the fair as we eat into their business,” says Mohan Kumar, a pavement bookstall owner at Pycrofts Road.
“When the book fair was conducted at the St. George School Grounds, we would do brisk business setting up shop outside. I would earn a profit of Rs. 50,000 in 10 days,” he recalls.
These pavement book sellers come from different localities, including Triplicane, Mylapore, T.Nagar and Moore Market.
While some consider them a hindrance to the smooth flow of traffic on the road, there are others who think they draw a huge number of visitors to the venue.
“It is a loss to BAPSI too. For many visitors, it was a place to sell their old books and find old titles that are not available with the publishers. We have represented to the members many a time,” says Mohan Kumar.
According to Meenakshi Somasundaram, president, BAPASI, many a pavement seller was seen when the venue was Quaid-E-Millath Government College for Women, Anna Salai. The numbers came down when the book fair moved to St. George School Grounds.
“ Our aim is to promote the interest of publishers first. They spend huge sums of money in investing in stalls and we have to look into their business interests first,” says Somasundaram.
