KOLKATA: Around a lakh thronged the International Kolkata Book Fair on a weekday which saw a significant number of foreign participants despite a Covid-scarred year.
The Russian stall at the book fair opened on Tuesday. Mikhail Gusev, deputy consul-general of Russia, said: “It is the art and culture that connects India and Russia. This is a platform where we can have this cultural exchange which can connect us.”
The Russia pavilion media spokesperson, Debosmita Moulik, said there are over 200 different kinds of Russian books, including children’s literature, classics, contemporary literature, and travelogues along with textbooks on Russia.
On the Ukraine war, she said, “International conflicts take place from time to time but cultural connections live on.” Russian painter Konstantin Poliakov is in Kolkata with his paintings on display at the Russian stall. The annual Maslenitsa Festival, known as the Blini (pancake) festival of Russia, is also being showcased.
Anna Moreva, a Russian space journalist said, “This is the first time I am attending the Kolkata book fair. I did not experience any problems in travelling here despite Covid and the war.”
The Iran stall is also drawing a good crowd. Hassan, a book supplier at the stall said, “India and Iran have very deep linguistic and cultural connections which go back centuries. Kolkata is also a very big centre for Farsi studies. We have dictionaries and works of Persian artists and travellers too. There are also Bengali books written about Iranian culture.”
Dibyajyoti Mukhopadhyay, director, Indo-Hispanic Language Academy, who was at the Argentina stall, said: “There are many Kolkata-based students who learn Spanish. India has very good bilateral trade with South American countries and many consider South America as a study destination.”
Sucheta Haldar, from Japan Curry, a social media organisation, said, “The Japan stall’s main attraction is Doraemon. People love taking pictures with him. A J-pop performance is coming up soon.”
