Speculation over who will organise the Kolkata International Book Fair has resurfaced in the city’s publishing circles following the emergence of a new publishers’ organisation in College Street, raising questions about the long-standing dominance of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild.
The Guild has been organising the Kolkata Book Fair since its inception in 1976. However, dissatisfaction among sections of publishers, writers, and literary figures over several decisions taken by the organisation in recent years has fuelled demands for a more inclusive structure.
Against this backdrop, a new organisation, “Bangiya Grantha Shilpa Parishad”, has announced its arrival in the city’s publishing landscape. The organisation is scheduled to hold its first programme at Mahajati Sadan on 29 June.
The event, organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of noted author Buddhadeb Guha, is expected to be attended by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Samik Bhattacharya and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader and researcher Jishnu Basu.
The presence of several BJP leaders in the organising committee has added a political dimension to this development. Talks within the College Street publishing community suggest that some sections are in favour of a change in the organisation of the Kolkata Book Fair following a possible political change in the state in the future.
Among the organisers of the programme is BJP spokesperson and advocate Debajit Sarkar. He said that when a single organisation continues to conduct an event for a long period, both appreciation and resentment naturally emerge.
“There are at least 13 organisations in the book trade apart from the Guild. Why cannot the Book Fair be organised collectively? What is the objection?” he asked.
Sarkar said that invitations had been extended to all publishers, including members of the Guild. “If there are grievances, the government will consider them. There will be no political interference,” he maintained.
Writer and poet Binayak Bandyopadhyay, who will anchor the programme, openly questioned the existing structure of the Guild. He argued that the organisation should include all those associated with publishing rather than a limited number of publishers.
He also alleged that several publishers do not receive equal treatment during the Book Fair and claimed that only selected individuals are invited to participate in literary events held on the fairgrounds.
Guild officials, however, dismissed the speculation. Guild general secretary Tridib Chattopadhyay said the organisation has been conducting the Book Fair since 1976 and questioned the idea of a collective management structure.
“If everyone can run the Book Fair together, then why cannot everyone run the government together?” he remarked, adding that he had been invited to the programme and would attend, although he did not expect any discussion on the issue.
Guild president Sudhangshu De declined to comment on the controversy but pointed out that the Guild had honoured Buddhadeb Guha with its Lifetime Achievement Award.