VISAKHAPATNAM: Around 250 writers and poets from across the country will grace the Visakha Book Festival being organised as part of Vizag Fest from April 12 to 18. The literary fest, Gurajada Sahitya Vedika, will witness speeches, debates and question-answer sessions with the active involvement of the eminent literary figures.
The book fair was inaugurated by AP Legislative Council chairman A Chakrapani here Saturday. Each day will have a specific theme such as society and literature, gathering of poets of many languages, globalisation and culture, social inequalities and literature, media-TV-cinema, Telugu language, contemporary literature and how present day literature is suppose to be.
The event will see participation of AP Legislative Council vice-chairman Mandali Buddhaprasad, noted academician Chukka Ramayya and other dignitaries as chief guests apart from writers including Telakapalli Ravi, Chalasani Prasad, Sitaram, Muvva Srinivasarao, Kolakaluri Eenak, Olga, Lenin Dhanisetty, Jagaddhatri, Ampasayya Naveen and Nanduri Rajagopal.
The organisers on Saturday screened and analysed ‘Kanyasulkam’ movie.
On April 14, Akbar-Birbal skit will be showcased by the students of Payakaraopeta School. A workshop will be held on children’s literature on April 12 at 2 pm and several books will be unveiled from April 12 to 14. Around 150 book stalls have been set up at the book festival by various publishers from across India including Dhingra Publishing House and Harper Collins from New Delhi, Jaico and Trinity Press from Hyderabad.
Madhuri Jain, sales manager of Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Private Limited from New Delhi, which publishes books solely on Indology, said, “We are 150 years old and travel to many cities that host book fairs. This is the first time we have come to Vizag and are looking forward to a good response.” Her stall includes books on music, art, religion, archaeology, geography, architecture, history, even numismatics, all of them pertaining to India.
Maitri Book House, headed by Maitri Raju from Vijayawada, publishes books on progressive literature. “We usually receive a good response in Vijayawada and Hyderabad, and we are waiting to see the response in Vizag,” he said.
The 150 stalls have books of almost all genres: fiction, comics, education, religion, spirituality, history, autobiographies and biographies. Some stalls also have educational CDs about healthcare, music, science, and so on. The event is being organised by the National Book Trust in association with Andhra University, Sahitya Akademi and Vizag Book Festival Society.
Cultural Events to Promote Folklore
The cultural part of the fest will see artists from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Kerala and New Delhi performing dances and street plays revolving around the themes of traditional folklore. The aim of these programmes is to promote the ideas of truth, morality, respect, compassion and above all, togetherness.