The 19th book fair organised by the Jagatsinghpur Sabskrutika Parishad concluded here on Sunday. The fair culminated on a note of disappointment since none of the invited guests turned up for the closing day’s function.
The organisers were a sad lot as invited guests State Planning Board Deputy Chairman Bishnu Das, former Minister Damodar Rout, MPs Kulamani Samal and Ranjib Biswal, MLAs Rajashree Mallick and Prashant Muduli and Zilla Parishad President Priyadarshini Biswal did not turn up. Moreover, Collector-cum-Parishad chairman Yamini Sarangi stayed away citing her ill health.
The upset organisers later held the closing day with readymade guests. Parishad working chairman Manas Rath presided over the meeting, Jagatsinghpur Additional District Magistrate Sachidananda Sahoo and Parshad secretary Sarada Prasad Das were made the guests.
Organisers informed that the names of the originally-chosen guests had been printed in invitation card after taking their consent and, accordingly, the programme was scheduled.
However, Parishad working president Sasanka Sekhar Panda said the book fair was a success with as many as 117 bookstalls being put up and with a business of Rs 25 lakh by publishers, booksellers and printers.
Parishad joint secretary Sudhir Mohanty and others were present.