The 20th Kalinga Book Fair kicked off Friday amid cultural programmes and book launches. The inaugural was graced by Professor Biswaranjan Mohapatra, novelist Bibhuti Pattnaik, columnist and spiritual writer Abhay Nayak, Dr Anjali Tripathy, the vice president of the Kalinga Book Fair and Renuka Mishra. The chief guest, Minister for Women and Child Welfare Prafulla Mishra, couldn’t attend.
The guests lighted the lamp on the stage with a traditional Hulahuli by the ladies. Later, Klanta Godhuli, a book written by Ashalata Panda was launched at the function.
Madhumita Mohanty anchored the programme. In her welcome speech Renuka Mishra recalled how the book fair was started due to the efforts of Purnendu Mishra and that it had just 10 stalls at the Jayadev Bhawan in 1997. Now, the stalls have increased to a whopping 200 and every year it is being organised at the exhibition ground. She said the fair will conclude on November 5.
Famous novelist Bibhuti Pattnaik said that books can bring about revolutions. One can never advance without knowledge and for that books are essential. In this age of the Internet and mobile phones one must stay connected to books. If books survive literature too will survive. He said the Kalinga Book Fair is unique as it encourages the young to read. When the young start reading that will strengthen the roots of literature, he added.
On November 4, ten writers and poets will be felicitated along with 50 students. Every day the fair will start at 2 pm. There will be cultural programmes every evening for school and college students along with book launches, poetry recitation etc.
