A wonderful and useful event: Chennai international book fair 2023

A book fair is a showcasing event for books from various authors that are made available for purchase to the public. It is a highly anticipated gathering for readers, writers, publishers, and booksellers, offering a perse range of book genres, including biographies, autobiographies, fiction, and childrens literature. Book fairs serve as an expression of a countrys cultural outlook and are considered grand festivals by book enthusiasts. In addition to popular titles, rare and obscure books can also be found at these events, making it a valuable opportunity for book collectors.

CIBF 2023:

The 46th Edition of the Chennai International Book Fair, the second largest in India after the Delhi Book Fair, was inaugurated by Honorable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. The fair, which was hosted from January 16th to 18th, was organized by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corp and marked the first International Book Fair in the region. The Tamil publishing industry is known for producing 10,000 new titles annually, and the fair aimed to expand the market for authorized translations with the inclusion of international participants from countries such as Canada, Britain, Italy, France, and more. Agreements were signed for translations from Tamil to various languages, including French, Bengali, and Malayalam, as well as the exchange of copyrights between Tamil and foreign publishers.

Over the course of the event, more than 500 writers and publishers were in attendance and a total of 15 lakh readers visited the fair, with over one lakh daily in the last 4-5 days. A total of books worth Rs 16 crore were sold, and the South Indian Publishers Association expressed satisfaction with the high turnout of readers. The Tamil Nadu government also set up stalls showcasing their home-seeking education program, which garnered significant attention from parents and children.

In his speech, Honorable Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his aim to bring the works of top scholars from around the world to Tamil and emphasized the importance of quality book translations in promoting the prosperity of the Tamil language. He further stated that the goal of the International Book Fair was a global knowledge exchange and indicated plans to extend its duration in the future.