Manipuri community gets first ever book fair

For the first time ever, a book fair was held for the Manipuri community in Moulvibazar, in a festive manner.

The "Manipuri Larikki Mela-2021" graced the premises of Manipuri Cultural Complex at Tetaigaon village of Kamalganj upazila on Thursday, marking the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

Freedom fighter Maymom Monmohan Singh inaugurated the fair, organised by Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad (BMSS). A discussion was held during the inauguration.

"We organised the fair with the aim to preserve the language, literature, culture, and heritage of the Manipuri community for future generations. The fair features over a thousand books," said Shonaton Hamom, member secretary of BMSS.

Poet and researcher Prof Nripendra Lal Das was the chief guest at the discussion programme, also attended by writers, poets and journalists.

The festival was divided in three sessions: the inauguration, the discussion and a cultural programme during the concluding ceremony.

Visiting the fair, this correspondent spoke to several visitors. One of them, HSC student Onanna Singha, said, "I have been to book fairs several times, but this one is special because of its specific focus on the Manipuri community."

In total, 12 stalls -- featuring a range of publications -- were set up at the fair. Publication houses told this correspondent that sales were satisfactory.

Author Maiban Sadhan from Dhaka, publisher and owner of Teuri Prokashon, who set up a stall at the fair, said such events bring enlightenment to the nation.

Poet Jabed Bhuiyan, central member of Bangladesh Pragati Lekhak Sangha, told this correspondent, "Books can play a big role in the development of children, which is why it was encouraging to see them showing up in numbers."

He also said the visitors demanded regular arrangement of such fairs.