Good news for book lovers: Assam Book Fair begins in Chandmari

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: It is finally that time of the year for which book lovers eagerly wait for. The Assam Book Fair was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Assam Engineering Institute playground in Chandmari in the city.

The 12-day event is being organized by the Publication Board, Assam, in collaboration with the All Assam Book Publishers' and Booksellers' Association. The theme of the book fair is based on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. This year, due to the spike in COVID cases and the threat of the Omicron variant, the Publication Board, Assam decided to combine the Guwahati Book Fair and the Northeast Book Fair and named the book fair as the Assam Book Fair.

The book fair was inaugurated by State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu. Professor Nani Gopal Mahanta, adviser to the Education Department, was also present. On the inaugural day, the Prakashan Parishad Sahitya Bota was given away to writer Dr Nandita Devi and publisher Nagen Sarma. The award carries Rs 2 lakh cash, a citation and a bundle of books.

State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu announced that from next year, the award prize money will be enhanced to Rs 5 lakh.

On the other hand, eight books were released on the first day of the book fair. The book fair will conclude on January 9, 2022. Over 110 book publishers and booksellers will be participating in the event.

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