Pirated books are giving a ‘tough time’ to the organisers of International Kolkata Book Fair, as despite attempts to check their incursion, these books continue to adorn shelves. The organisers of Kolkata book fair, Publishers and Booksellers Guild on Tuesday held a Press conference where they admitted that pirated books have been spotted at several stalls.
The organisers had denied permission to set up stalls to two publishers at the book fair as they publish pirated books. However, despite precautionary measures, pirated books made it to the shelves.
Alarmed at the invasion of pirated books, the organisers have issued an ultimatum to the publishers who put up stalls at the book fair that they will have to remove pirated books from their stalls. Though organisers refused to name these publishers, there are 12 such stalls who reportedly had pirated books. “Our men had found out that stalls are keeping pirated books.
We have sent a circular to these publishers and have asked them to remove pirated books or their stalls may be shut down,” Mr Sudhansu Dey, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, said. The organisers said that a few days ago, the organisers had spotted pirated books being sold in nearby stalls of the book fair.
They had immediately alerted the police. “We had informed the police after we spotted men selling pirated books a few blocks ahead. These men were removed but a few made it to stalls of book fair,” secretary of Publishers and Booksellers Guild, Mr Tridib Chatterjee, said when asked how did the books get in despite repeated warnings.
The organisers said, they feared that this year footfall may be less as the 42nd Kolkata International Book Fair has been shifted to Central Park in Salt Lake this year. The organisers claimed that while the footfall compared to that of the last year was much less, the number of books sold has increased considerably.
“This is the first time that the book fair is being organised at this new venue and we had initially feared that the footfall may be less. But we have to say that the response has surprised us,” Mr Chatterjee said. While the transport department has provided buses, visitors were often seen complaining there is less availability of transport.
Additionally, asking the police officers for direction was not of much help, visitors said. For the benefit of book lovers who stream in every year, a new stall will be set up beside the Guilds office where detailed information regarding buses and availability of transport will be provided.
“The police officers on duty here are from Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate and other districts on shift duty. They might not know certain routes. So we have decided to set up a stall that will have all the information regarding transport,” Mr Dey said.