News Desk, News Nation 360 : The 48th International Kolkata Book Fair will be inaugurated on January 28, 2025, at 4 PM by the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Boimela Prangan in Salt Lake. The Focal Theme Country will be represented by the German delegates, along with a few authors, some dignitaries, and the state ministers. The open-air format of this year's fair will come along with a "Premier Area" exclusively for English language publishers. Senior Citizen's Day will be held on February 4th, and Children's Day will be celebrated on February 2nd. The fair will have nine entry and exit gates, which will be named after Goethe and Max Mueller. Birth centenaries of personalities like Narayan Sanyal, Salil Chowdhury, and Rhittik Ghatak will be observed, along with the 125th birth anniversaries of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Jibananda Das. A dedicated app developed by Sister Nivedita University will provide real-time information and virtual access to the fair, while a digital ground map with participant details will be available through QR codes. Peerless Hospitex Hospital will provide medical assistance, and Meghbela Broadband will serve as the Exclusive Broadband Partner. Novotel Hotels will offer hospitality to international guests. Approximately 20 countries will take part, and a daily lottery will give "Buy books and win a Book Library" prizes. State Bank of India will provide banking services, and HDFC Ergo General Insurance and the National Jute Board will be official partners for the event. The 11th edition of the Kolkata Literature Festival will take place from February 6th to 8th in the SBI auditorium. The Guild looks forward to insights by Barbara Voss, Hon'ble Consul General of Germany in Kolkata, and Astrid Wege, Director, Goethe Institut, Kolkata on the participation as the Focal Theme Country.
Pic - Krishnendu Kundu
