The organisers of the Kolkata International Book Fair and the government-appointed advisory committee jointly inspected the fairground in Salt Lake on Wednesday, weeks after a newspaper advertisement triggered a public dispute between the organisers and the state government. The visit brought the two sides together at the venue for the first time since that disagreement became public.
Representatives of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, including Tridib Chattopadhyay and Sudhanshu Shikhar De, inspected the current condition of the fairground along with Prosanjit Bakshi, one of the representatives of the government’s advisory committee. The group reviewed the venue on site as preparations begin for the 2027 edition of the event.
According to the organisers, the next fair will mark the 50th anniversary, or golden jubilee year, of the Kolkata International Book Fair. The event is being planned jointly by the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre and the National Book Trust.
The organisers said the central theme of the golden jubilee edition will be “India”. The fairground is expected to carry themes linked to 150 years of Vande Mataram, 80 years of Independence, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and the human consequences of Partition. These themes are expected to shape the cultural and commemorative elements of the event.
The organisers also announced changes to the stall application and allocation process. Applicants will be asked to apply through an online portal, while applications already submitted will also be entered into the digital system. After an initial screening of applications, stall allocation will be completed through a lottery.
The proposed digital process is intended to bring greater transparency to stall booking and allotment, an issue that can affect publishers, booksellers and the physical organisation of a large public fair. The report did not provide details of the eligibility criteria, the number of stalls to be allotted or the timeline for completing the lottery.
The 2027 Kolkata International Book Fair is scheduled to open on January 22 and continue until February 4. The organisers said the inauguration is expected to be attended by Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari, along with writers, literary figures, poets and other guests.
The joint inspection marks the latest administrative step before preparations move towards the fair’s opening. Further details on the venue arrangements, online applications and the final stall-allocation process are expected from the organisers and the participating institutions.
