1234 Kolkata: Bengal's love for books and football came up during CM Mamata Banerjee's speech while inaugurating the 48th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) at Salt Lake Central Park on Tuesday, with Germany as the theme country for the first time.
In the presence of German ambassador Philipp Ackermann, Goethe Institut, South Asia regional director Marla Stuckenberg, Banerjee said, "Please convey my congratulations to your footballers. They are very popular because our people like football like anything. We have so many important clubs. We are always happy to see football." Addressing the Argentina representatives, she said, "Argentina also I love your football. When we started colouring blue and white, I had thought that sky has no limit. Then some people told me I was aping Argentina's national colourere. I said all colours are for everyone."
Referring to Bengal's love for books the CM said IKBF was one of the best book fairs in India and she wanted IKBF to be the best in the world. "I want to see that in future you must try to be the best of the best in the world," she said.
Banerjee whose three books - ‘Salute 2', ‘Lipiboddho-Kichu Kaj' and ‘Banglay Nirbachan O Amra' - were released on the occasion, also greeted the delegation from Germany. "We are fortunate that more than 50 people have come from Germany this time. The Frankfurt Book Fair is very popular, and in our country, the Kolkata Book Fair is the best. Our culture is to maintain unity and diversity, and we love and respect each religion, caste, language, and culture. Netaji had a deep connection with Germany, and his daughter stays in Germany, whom I met", she said.
The CM said that IKBF garnered Rs 30 crore business last year with over 27 lakh visitors. "This year, the numbers may cross 50 lakh. Earlier, the book fair had a temporary place, but now we have given a permanent ‘Boi Mela Prangan'. We cannot ignore the digital world, but let us love books too," she said.
Ackermann said, "Kolkata is the intellectual and artistic hub of India. The CM is a well-known poet and painter also. The Kolkata Book Fair is where India and the world come together. India was rightfully selected as guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair twice."
Publishers and Booksellers Guild president Tridib Chatterjee said the day was an important occasion for them as Germany has become the focal theme country of IKBF for the first time. Eminent writer Abul Bashar was conferred the Guild Lifetime Literary Award. For the first time, the book fair has two ducks named Haso & Hasi as special mascots to greet all the visitors.