Aizwal Book Fair-2007 delights booklovers in Mizoram

A large number of book lovers from different parts of Mizoram recently had a wonderful time collecting books from the wide range put on display during the annual Aizwal Book Fair-2007 here.

By D. Henpilen

Aizwal, Aug.24 : A large number of book lovers from different parts of Mizoram recently had a wonderful time collecting books from the wide range put on display during the annual Aizwal Book Fair-2007 here.

The 10-day book fair was a major draw for people from different walks of life from in and around Aizwal, the capital of Mizoram.

The presence of a large number of book lovers delighted the host of publishers who had put up a number of stalls offering a variety of books at the annual fair. Many of them felt that the book fair could be a success due Mizoram having the second highest literacy rate (88.06 per cent) after Kerala (90.92 per cent).

Every year, publishers from across the country are invited to participate and exhibit their latest and other titles which may not be easily available, otherwise, in Mizoram.

A majority of the participants in Aizwal Book Fair-2007 were from Kolkata. The book fair was visited by school and college-goers who evinced keen interest in the wide range of publications.

The fair was also a big draw for government servants, personnel from the Armed Forces and hundreds of other book lovers from Aizwal as well as other Districts who frequented the Book Fair on all days.

Ramesh Tewari, organiser of the Aizwal Book Fair-2007, said: "The concept of organising the book fair clicked when I came here with my friend and noticed that people really take interest in reading. But we could hardly find any book for leisure reading except textbooks. The books, which are displayed here, they cannot find anywhere else.

Tewari said: "I have displayed books of every type . It could be a for a toddler, a teen and young ."

In Aizwal city, there are around dozen book marts. Owing to it geographical isolation new titles and other editions are not easily available all the time.

"The books we find are really good and the students can get lots of knowledge and also the price of the books is cheaper. I am a teacher and like to read books," said Prof. R. Thangunga, an academician.

The enthusiastic response of the people of Mizoram has prompted publishers and book sellers to tap the vast potential of readers in the State.

At the Aizwal Book Fair-2007, as usual, the visitors availed 10 per cent discount on academic books while for the non-academic publications, the discount ranged from 15 to 20 per cent.

ANI