This time footfall at Utsa Manush Stall was not that
encouraging. Not only Utsa Manush, a large number of other
participants including reputed publishers also held the same
view.
It may be due to a multiple factors - district
book fairs, online purchases, location of the fair ground.
The new generation, particularly those in good academic
institutions are not that interested in reading Bengali
books. Combination of all factors is attributed the drop in
counter sales.
We are worried about our
participation in the KBF. We feel the cost hike by the Fair
Authority in all respects. Nevertheless, our participation
in KBF is necessary.
Lekhalikhi (Asok) was sold
pretty well this time.
We request all Utsamanush
well-wishers to participate with their friends and families
in the future.
Here is a
List of books
that was avaiable at the stall. If you did not get a chance
to come by the stall, you may order the books from the list.
In Memory of Asok Bandyopadhyay 2014 22.11.2014 -
Saturday (5.30 pm)
6th Asok Bandyopadhyay Memorial Lecture was delivered
by Smt. Bolan Gangopadhyay
at Paschim Banga Bangla Academy (Jibananda Sabhaghar)
(behind NANDAN)
Topic
"Asongothito Manusher Benche Thakar Larai"
(the life struggle of the people belonging to un-organised
sector)
Audio Version To
listen to the audio version of the lecture, clickhere.
(The lecture starts at 16:25)
(To download the lecture, right click and choose �Save
link as�)
This time particular focus was on
"Lekhalikhi" a collection of Asok Bandopadhyay's essays and
"Juktibader Char
Senapati" a Bengali translation on the lives and works of
Jyoti Ba Phule, Ruchiram Sahni, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and Dr.
Narendra Achyut Davolkar (all rationalists and social
reformers).
Pratul Mukhopadhyay (of Ami Banglai
Gun Gai fame) did his best to get the articles translated in
Bengali.
Apart from our existing books we did
our best to push these two new books (one priced at Rs. 200
and the other Rs. 40 only). We have noticed that many book
lovers from suburbs did not turn up due to various reasons.
Major reason being bad transport link to the venue from
either Sealdah or Howrah Railway Stations. Moreover the
approach road to Milan Mela Ground being the venue of KBF
remain in bad condition due to ongoing construction work,
this being the 3rd year everybody suffered badly leading to
the fall of business transaction in the small stalls.
We brought all of our published books
and periodicals (old and current).
KBF offered an opportunity to have close
interaction with more and more readers and like minded
persons, whom we cannot reach orn a regular basis.
Aside from UM published books, we also
kept some selected books authored/published by others, who
are traditionally identified by UM.
We brought a few out-of-print
books which are already reprinted.
Our presence at KBF gave us a positive
publicity, which kept us going.
We received direct
feed back from the readers and well-wishers.
Little Magazine Fair January 10 - 15, 2013
Utsa Manush was provided with a table space at the Little
Magazine Fair, commenced on 10.1.13 and continued till
15.1.13, organised by Paschim Bangla Academy in
Nandan-Rabindra Sadan Complex.
Some of our titles like Vivekananda Anya Chokhay, Protirodh,
Jay Golper Sesh Nai etc. including our magazines were sold
very well. Many visitors enquired about Utsa Manush was doing.
The Fair remained open from 2 to 8 pm. Our table was
continuously manned by someone throughout the time.
The Little Magazine Fair in College Square is a yearly affair,
organised by Little Magazine Unity Forum (Sommonoy Mancha).
LMUF has been holding the Fair since 2006, where like previous
years this time too Utsa Manush participated. We were provided
with table space there. Did reasonable trading, better than
previous years. Some cultural programmes and lectures were
organised by the LMUF. Peoples' songs by some budding and
veteran singers, performance by "Satabdi" (Badal Sarkar's
Group) and lectures on the country's inviting Wall Mart etc.
at the cost of indigenous traders (big and small), are all
about cultural/protesting voice. A good number of leaflets
bearing brutal attack on "Damini" "Nirvaya" and her subsequent
death were distributed by some activists. It is learnt that
the Fair could not secure any sponsorship. All expenses were
met by donations from individuals and members.
36 Kolkata International Book Fair 2012 (opposite Science City)
25
Jan to 5 Feb 2012
Stall no. 344
(under the shed sideways or corridor between Hangar 3 & 4
near Gate no. 3)
January 31: We noticed people from all cross section of the
society and from distant places like Ramurhut, Basirhat,
Tarkeswar etc. are coming to our stall and buying our
magazines, books and many of them are becoming new
subscribers too.
We do see people of various ages (18 -
70) visiting at our stall. We also see many of our old friends
who did not see for a long time. Our
book Khabar Niyay Vabar Aachhay published in 2000 is
still in high demand. Other books Sap Niyay
Kimbodonti, Protirodh, Auyervaday Bijgnan,
Jay Golper Sesh Nei are also drawing attention to many visitors.
We spoke with a few visitors have been regularly accessing our
website.
This time the Publishers and Book Sellers
Guild (Fair authority) has not brought out any map of the fair
in alphabetical order with stall numbers, thereby making it
difficult for the readers to locate the stalls of their
choice. Utsa Manush Stall is a victim of the prevailing
situation.
UM January - March 2012 Issue is likely to hit
the stall on Wednesday.
Our Agenda in KBF
UM brought all its published books
and periodicals (old and current) to KBF
KBF offers an opportunity to have close
interaction with more and more readers and like minded
persons, whom we cannot reach in normal time.
Aside from UM published books, we also
keep some selected books authored/published by others, who
are traditionally identified by UM. Sunderbaner Sap CD
will have its normal access to UM stall at KBF.
Hope to bring out Promithuser Pothay, a
traditionally popular title. A new book on "Obedience to
Values" (Mullobodher Khonjay) is likely to bring out.
Our presence at KBF gives us a positive
publicity, which keeps us going
To receive direct
feed back from the readers and well-wishers
