Bookworms come tumbling out of the woodwork

Though the book fair was inaugurated on the eve of World Kannada Meet, but for first three days, it seemed no one was interested in the fair. However, on Saturday, the fair sprang to life driving away the worries of bookstall owners.

It appeared as if all roads of Belgaum led to the book fair at Lingaraja College grounds. In a single day, more than 1 lakh people visited book stalls.

A Kannada development Authority (KDA) source, who was among the organisers of the fest, said, “We were worried that people would not come to the book fair because of the low turnout in the first few days. But on Saturday, all the book stalls were filled with people with over one lakh people visiting the stalls. As per the estimates, over Rs3 crore worth books were sold.”

“In the past three days, there was no business at all. But now, we have no time for even a cup of coffee. People have been coming in large numbers and purchasing books like in the Kannada literary meet recently held in Bangalore,” said Umesh Patil of Navabharatha Prakashana.

Eshappa of Geethanjali Publishers of Shimoga said, “Though there are minor problems in the book festival, but the response is better than the Bangalore meet. We are doing good business.”
Shalini, a young college student, was happy to find books of her choice. “It is great moment for me. There are good discounts here so I can buy more books, especially Kuvempu, Karanth and Karnad books” she said.

There was great demand for Kannada books especially those written by Pooranachanda Tajaswi, Da Ra Bendre and children’s books.