Fair revives book culture amid digital distractions

Amid worries of a social media onslaught stealing away people’s time and energies formerly reserved for books, the success of the 3-day Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da and soaring book sales at the fair has come as relief for book lovers. Thousands of books worth between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 20 lakh were sold at the fair. At least 40 to 50 new books were also released in 3 days.

The fair had 100 book stalls. While it is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for top Punjab publishers, it also hosted university publishing houses, Language Department stalls, publishers and sellers from Delhi, Haryana, UP and Uttarakhand. The mela doesn’t charge a single penny for anyone setting up a book stall. It is also credited with being the first Punjab fair which sparked a bustling book culture in the state.

The fair has also been marked with an enthusiasm from Delhi and Haryana Progressives and students groups (Vanguard, Lal Taara, etc.) who came in with their art - witty badges, tote bags, cups and posters screaming “Viva La Revolucion” and cat logos vowing allegiance to “Chairman Meow” (cat-sy twist to Mao Zedung).

Apart from Ghadar and Marxism, themes like Punjab’s waters, agrarian crisis, Sikh history, global water wars, philosophy, Islam, Dalit consciousness, the new world order, illuminati, etc. found collective place at the book stalls. Frida Kahlo, Pablo Neruda, Nikola Tesla, Tupac Shakur and Bob Marley remained as celebrated on the bookstalls as Bhagat Singh, BR Ambedkar, Pash, Guru Nanak, Banda Bahadur and Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule..

Doctors from Bathinda NGO “Sada Doctor” disbursed pamphlets spreading awareness on diseases and members of Punjabi Islamic Publications, Malerkotla and members of the Ahmediya Muslim Community gave out free copies of the Quran and booklets on the teachings of Mohammed.

Kesar from Punjab Prakshan, key organizer of the ‘pustak mela’ at the fair, said, “When the mela started off in 1992, there were two elderly men who put up stalls, rather vends. The babas used to call them ‘kitaban de vanjare’. Today people send us requests to come here. The Desh Bhagat Yadgaar hall was the first to kick off book culture, similar fairs are now hosted across state universities, Lyallpur Khalsa College, Baba Farid Mela and other platforms. Books worth Rs 18 to 20 lakhs were sold this year. 40 books were released at the mela this year – three from the committee alone. We also host a special first day committed only to books where dedicated book sellers, publishers and NGOs are called on to speak. A girl from Lucknow who sells Marxist books across country, was the key speaker this time.”

Pardeep Singh, from Moosa, the diligent friend of singer Sidhu Moosewala set up two stalls one of his own book house (in Moosa village) and another under White Crow Publishers run by a relative. Pardeep said, “The Ghadri Mela is the only book fair in Punjab where all big and small publishers vie to come. Our White Crow publishers have published 50 books on Punjab, country’s hidden truths – on waters, Deep State, Geo Politics, Tihar Jail etc., also publishing jailed writers.” Vikas from Laal Tara, Haryana said, “Our art and slogans are all made by government school kids. The mela is a very robust space where alternate thought, is welcomed.”

Had 100 book stalls

The fair had 100 book stalls. While it is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for top Punjab publishers, it also hosted university publishing houses, Language Department stalls, publishers and sellers from Delhi, Haryana, UP and Uttarakhand. The mela doesn’t charge a single penny for anyone setting up a book stall. It is also credited with being the first Punjab fair which sparked a bustling book culture in the state.