The 48th Chennai Book Fair was inaugurated yesterday at the Nandanam YMCA Grounds by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The fair, organized annually by the South Indian Booksellers and Publishers Association (PBASI), was conducted simply this year in remembrance of the late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
During the opening ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, along with Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, Health Minister M. Subramanian, and Chennai Mayor R. Priya, visited the stalls. This fair serves as a significant platform for promoting literature, education, and book culture, offering a great opportunity for both local and international authors to showcase their works to book enthusiasts.
The fair features over 900 stalls, with a 10% discount on all books. Additional discounts are available for school and college students, encouraging them to purchase books. Visitors can attend the fair on holidays from 11 AM to 8:30 PM and on weekdays from 2 PM to 8:30 PM. The entry fee is ₹10, with free entry for students, which aligns with the fair’s main goal of providing new educational and knowledge opportunities for students.
Additionally, the fair hosts several special events. On January 7 and 8, art and speech competitions will be held for school students, providing them with an excellent platform to showcase their creativity and critical thinking. On the closing day of the fair, Supreme Court Judge R. Mahadevan will participate, marking another special milestone.
As part of a social initiative, a Self-Help Group (SHG) exhibition is being held near the book fair, organized by the Ministry of Rural Development and the Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation. This exhibition features over 100 stalls showcasing products made by women’s self-help groups from various states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Maharashtra. This exhibition aims to empower women entrepreneurs and improve their economic status. It will run until January 9 and will be open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.
Both the Book Fair and the Self-Help Group Exhibition serve as excellent representatives of books, culture, art, and heritage for people from Tamil Nadu and other states. These events, which contribute to education and social development, are designed to attract people of all age groups.
