Stalls on specialised subjects add diversity to Shillong Book Fair

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 12, 2024

A handful of stalls focusing on specialised subjects at the 2nd edition of the Shillong Book Fair – organised by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education, Government of India – have been attracting niche buyers.

The stalls set up by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Sangeet Natak Akademi are providing book lovers with a different flavour at the fair. Both these stalls have come to Shillong for the first time.

IGNCA has around 50 titles, including books about the Northeast, such as Jewels of North East India, Aka’s: The Land & Its People, Basketry: Everyday Art of North East India, and Rock Art: Heritage of North East India.

Wafa Hasan, who was in charge of the IGNCA stall, said the footfall has been satisfactory. “All our books are deeply research-based and attract only scholars or those who are keen on knowing about the subjects. We have sold a few books, but our objective is not just selling the books. We want people to know what kind of work we do and how they can benefit from IGNCA. I have been interacting with visitors and telling them about our research. The exercise has been fruitful,” said Hasan.

There are over 60 titles and music CDs at the Sangeet Natak Akademi stall. The northeastern state that has found prominence at the stall is Manipur. There are both books and music CDs on the Manipuri dance form.

“Our books are on specialised subjects and appeal to those who are into music and dance or have a deep interest in the subject. We have sold books worth Rs 15,000. Many curious readers came to see our collection,” said Bibek Mukherjee at the Akademi stall.

The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology has also set up a stall, offering a wide range of books on various subjects.

For regular readers, the National Book Trust stall has a unique collection of fiction and non-fiction books, including children’s literature in the Khasi, Garo, and Assamese languages. The stall has over 50 titles in Assamese, 500 in English, about 60 in Hindi, and 10 in Khasi. The books are pocket-friendly and cater to readers of all ages.

Chiranjib, who hails from Kolkata and is in Shillong for work, said he is a member of the Trust and has always liked the collection.

The National Book Trust has been organising events for children too. The penultimate day on 12 October 2024 saw an open mic session where school students flaunted their talents. A Khasi dance performance by the students of Silbi Passah and band music by Grassroots kept visitors entertained in the evening.