The 45th International Kolkata Book Fair 2021 has been deferred owing to the Worldwide Pandemic situation. But as of now, the pandemic situation has improved.
The Focal Theme Country of the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair 2021 is Bangladesh. The year 2021 is the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and it is also the 50th year of the independence of Bangladesh. The International Kolkata Book Fair 2021 will be dedicated to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee year of independence of Bangladesh.
The 125th Birth year of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Birth Centenary of Great Master Satyajit Ray will also be celebrated in the International Kolkata Book Fair 2021.
Many literary and eminent personalities like Soumitra Chatterjee, Pranab Mukherjee, Anisujjaman, Debesh Roy, Nimai Bhattacharya, Manabendra Bandyopadhyay, Alokeranjan Dasgupta, Swapan Mazumdar and others had departed in 2020. The organizing committee will pay homage to them at the International Kolkata Book Fair 2021.
Considering the upcoming Assembly Election, ICSE, CBSE board exams and Madhyamik & Higher Secondary exams, the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair 2021 will be held in the month of July 2021.Venue — Central Park Mela Ground, Salt Lake. Necessary health protection and covid protocol will be taken to organize the Fair in this changed schedule.
Intending publishers, booksellers, editors of Little Magazines and other participants of the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair 2021, may submit applications at the Guild House from 1 March 2021 onwards.
The added attraction of the International Kolkata Book Fair, the 8th Kolkata Literature Festival will be organized as usual during the Book Fair. For the first time, Publishers & Booksellers Guild will organize a Book Festival ‘Ekushe Bhasha Utsab’ on the occasion of the International Mother language Day. The Festival will celebrate Bengali literature, language and culture.
Apart from this new initiative, Nababarsha Boi Utsab will be organized like earlier years during the Nababarsha, the Bengali New Year at the College Square and College Street Boi Para. The World Book Day will be also celebrated along with it.
(By Pratyusha Mukherjee)