Patna, Dec. 5: The Patna Book Fair opened to an overwhelming response today as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the event at the historic Gandhi Maidan in the presence of authors, publishers, and book enthusiasts from across the state. With the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the Chief Minister and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Minister for Building Construction, Information and Public Relations, Parliamentary Affairs, and Water Resources, the fair was officially declared open to the public.
In an age dominated by hyperactive social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, it was remarkable to witness large crowds—both young and old—flocking to the wooden stalls of prominent publishing houses, including Prabhat Prakashan, Bhagalpur-based Dinkar Pustakalaya, and Rajkamal Prakashan.
Amit Jha, the chief convener of the Patna Book Fair who has been organizing the event for the past 41 years, recalled that until 2010 the fair attracted such massive crowds that managing them often bordered on chaos. Jha, who also heads the renowned publishing house Novelty & Company, noted that after 2010 the rapid rise of social media significantly altered reading habits. “People still visited the fair, but the footfall reduced noticeably,” he said with concern.
The Covid-19 pandemic dealt another severe blow. “During and after the pandemic, although we continued hosting the fair, the pre-2010 enthusiasm of book lovers was largely missing,” Jha admitted.
However, 2024 marked a turning point. “Last year, the fair surpassed all our expectations in terms of turnout. And this year as well—despite today being only the inaugural day—we are witnessing an impressive surge of visitors,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone, expressing cautious optimism.
Echoing this sentiment, Nayan Jha of Bhagalpur’s Dinkar Pustakalaya said that books published by their house have been receiving an overwhelming response at the fair for the past two years.
( Writer is a Senior Journalist and Author)
