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‘Knowledge is power’ – That’s what comes to mind when one steps into St George Higher Secondary School, Chennai, to visit the 35th annual book fair that began on January 5, 2012.
The Book Sellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) organises this annual book fair which is one of the most awaited events of Chennai.
One of the organising members, Venkatachalam, said, “This year, too eminent writers, film personalities are visiting the book fair, apart from book-lovers.”
Compared to last year, this year was happier because we are getting more response from the public, he explained. This year there are more than 680 stalls in the book fair.
On January 11, 2012 celebrity anchor Gopinath spoke and said the reading habit among children has made the book fair become more and more popular.
Book-sellers also felt that people are interested to visit the fair and buy books in person rather than buying them online.
Mahalakshmi Aravind, a homemaker, has been a regular visitor to the book fair from her college days. After her marriage, she settled abroad. But even now she visits the book fair with her family.
She said, “This book fair helps my children improve their general knowledge.” Though she is interested in religious and medical books, her 5-year-old child is interested in comics.
Even physically-challenged people are visiting the fair. Poongavanam is a physically-challenged person who has been visiting the book fair for the last two years. His likes to pick up books on the epics and religion.
Venkataramanan, 78, is happy to potter about the book fair and buys books on his favourite topics - astrology, novels and religion.
The students of Sastra University, who had turned up for the book fair, showed much interest in the books of Vivekananda.
Besides exhibiting and selling books, the organisers conducted blood donation camp at the entrance of the fair, and gave away annual awards to the best writer and best publisher.
S.Gayathri
B.Kriba
B.Kirthika
J.Yogeshwari
B.Jraldin Jenifer
A.Silomina
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