Addressing a press meet today, members of the association said that total 80 book publishing and distributing agencies have confirmed their participation in the fair and more such houses may join the event in the coming days.
Of those who have confirmed their participation, 18 institutions are from Kolkata, 15 from Delhi, one each from Mumbai, Agra and Ludhiyana, and 44 participants are from the North East.
Expressing satisfaction over the venue of the fair, Giripada Dev Choudhury, president of the association said that the success of the book fair depends much on the venue. “As the fair is being organized in the main city, it would draw a bigger book-loving crowd to the event,” he said.
In a general meeting, regarding holding of the fair, held on November 20, it was decided to hold the fair at Chandmari. It was also proposed in the meeting, participated by several distinguished personalities representing various fields, that the State government should allow the NE Book Fair and Guwahati Book Fair in the AEI field, in the greater interest of book lovers of the State.
“Moreover, the State government should take initiative to revive the Assam Publication Board by bringing in eminent litterateurs and educationists,” said Satyendra Narayan Goswami, a member of the organising committee, constituted for the purpose.
“This time, Brahmaputra would be the theme of the festival and many deliberation and competitions would be held on this topic. Moreover, it has been decided to release around 100 books during the fair. Two seminars on the relevant topics would be held apart from various other programmes,” added Choudhury.
H Hussain, Editor of the Asomiya Pratidin, also spoke on the occasion.