SHAMIM AHSAN
It
takes some time before the tightly knit circular human fence
dissolves. The person who emerges from there is none other than
the popular writer Mohammad Zafar Iqbal. "I love it when
kids, young boys and girls hold out their books and notebooks
for my autograph," he confesses. And those who have managed
to get the autograph, beam with joy as they show their prized
possession to their awaiting parents. In Ekushey Boi Mela books
are not the sole attraction. There is always the chance of meeting
your favourite writer.
The characteristic soft scent from the new born
books that wafts along on the pleasant February wind welcomes
the bookworms. Bookworms of all ages-- the school going, precocious
bookworms with their heavy weight glasses and the grey haired
veteran bookworms -- assemble here to feast their eyes and minds
on the wide collection of books on offer. Since almost all the
notable publishing houses take part in this month-long book
fair it provides the bookworms with a unique opportunity to
check out the new releases. "Ekushey Boi Mela is the only
place where you find any book (that is published from Bangladesh)
you want. Except for a few very popular writers you won't find
many of them in the libraries, so the only option is to come
to the fair and get my entire year's stock from here,"
Iqbal says. Ekram Hossain, a Masters student at Karmichael University
in Rangpur cannot agree more. He exhibits his pick, Tenida Somogro
by Tarasangkor.
But among the hundreds that pour into the Bangla
Academy premises every afternoon not many are serious readers.
Ekushey Boi mela is not all about books. Books may be the occasion
but not the only attraction for a large number of visitors who
throng in their hundreds, sometimes with family members, sometimes
all alone and most of the time with friends. For the entertainment
starved Dhakaits who have little to do and almost nowhere to
go, even the dusty Academy premises appears a good hang out
place or a good adda venue.
The
other essential requirement for the fair to qualify as a good
hang out place is also there in the form of a large contingent
of Chotpoti stalls standing in a row closely accompanied by
icecream vendors, muri bhaja, badam, ghugni and so
on. After filling in the small open space the gathering crowd
spill out into the adjoining street. A number of groups of different
size and shape are scattered all over, some absorbed in adda
while some just look around aimlessly, some are strolling through
the zigzag lane in between rows of book stalls, some have chosen
to sit idle on the bricked (pacca) spacious fence that surrounds
the aged sprawling bunyan tree. While muri and chanachur,
accompanied by tomatoes proved to be the greatest crowdpuller
along with icecream--particularly among children and womenfolk,
the loud call, "coffee, hot coffee" from the coffee
vendor hasn't failed altogether. The young visitors who come
in large numbers, infect the air with their enthusiasm; their
infinite energy to make the mela premises buzz with
life. This feeling of joviality is what gives the Ekushey Boi
Mela its distinct character.
Children are also part of the crowd that throngs
in the mela premises every afternoon. Noted publisher
Sahittya Prokash has become the main attraction for the young
readers. The world renowned Walt Disney series books for children,
are now available in Bangla translation, courtesy of Sahittya
Prokash. "Our sales of children's books is often higher
than other books," Kamal Hossain, the man in charge of
the stall, reveals. Cindarella, Ghumkumari Part-1, 2, 3, Sonali
Mach Dhorar Golpo are among the best sellers of the Walt Disney
collection. Another stall called World of Children's Books,
perhaps the only stall devoted exclusively for children, has
caught the imagination of the children. "Our books, meant
for children of 3 to 10, would serve the dual purpose of giving
pleasure and education," says Mustafa Panna, a writer and
associate of the publishing house. The titles like Boloto Ami
Ke or Boloto Ki Dekhcho, Baba O Ami testify Panna's
claim. The careful choice of the topics written in a way so
that children can identify with them easily. The beautiful and
simple illustration certainly deserves kudos.
As always, at least for the last two decades,
Humayun Ahmed's books are topping the best sellers list by a
big margin. Two of his new books -- Jodio sondha and Jononi
O Jotsnayar Golpo -- both published by Annoprokash have so far
hit the stalls. Only six days more than 12 thousand copies of
Jodio Sandhya has been sold. Jononi O Jotsnayar Golpo, the largest
novel Humayun Ahmed has ever written was scheduled to arrive
on February 15. Based on the independent struggle the novel
has already created great enthusiasm in the literary circle,
not to mention the die hard Humayun fans. Another big name in
the mela premises is Zafar Iqbal. "I have a total of seven
and half new books for this fair. I am not sure but if giving
autographs is any indication the science fiction Obonil
seems to be selling well," Iqbal says.