The 44th edition of the Agartala Book Fair is all set to commence on January 2 at the Hapania International Fair Ground, marking a 13-day celebration of books, culture, and intellectual exchange. The fair will be officially inaugurated by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha in the presence of other dignitaries. This year’s event is themed around the 150th anniversary of *Vande Mataram*, as announced by Director of the Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) Department, Bimbisar Bhattacharjee, on Thursday.
With just a day remaining before the inauguration, preparations are in full swing at the venue. Publishers and booksellers from Tripura as well as various other states have begun arriving to set up stalls. The fair continues to be a much-awaited event for book lovers across the state, who look forward to the annual gathering as a festival of bibliomania and cultural engagement.
However, sources noted that the increasing popularity of e-commerce platforms has had an adverse impact on book fairs in recent years. Online portals often offer books at attractive discounts, drawing avid readers to digital purchases. Despite this, book fairs retain their unique charm by offering readers an opportunity to physically browse books, interact with authors and publishers, and celebrate reading as a shared cultural experience. The fair is also viewed as a broader celebration of wisdom, creativity, and knowledge.
According to Bhattacharjee, the number of stalls this year is expected to surpass last year’s count. “Last year, 180 stalls were set up. This year, we have already received applications for over 183 stalls,” he said. A wide range of cultural programmes will be organised throughout the fair, with separate time slots allocated for indigenous artists and classical performers.
Regarding international participation, Bhattacharjee stated that no applications have been received from Bangladeshi publishers since last year. In earlier editions, publishing houses from Bangladesh regularly participated. He added that ongoing political instability in Bangladesh since August 2024, following a student-led uprising and subsequent political changes, has affected bilateral ties, which may have influenced their absence from this year’s fair.
