Over seven lakh persons visited Krithi International Book Festival, organized jointly by the State Department of Cooperation and the writers’ cooperative, Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, in the city over the past 11 days. Books worth ₹17 crore were sold and children, availing of gift coupons, took home books worth ₹70 lakh, said the organisers as the curtains came down on what they described as by far, Kerala’s largest book festival.
The lovers of letters have welcomed the book festival with open arms, the organisers said, citing Minister for Cooperation Kadakampally Surendran to underline the success of the event, which is being planned as an annual event in the future.
There were a total of 160 fully air-conditioned stalls on Marine Drive which housed the book exhibition as well as various venues for events such as book releases. A press release said that small and medium-sized publishers had found a good response from book lovers in the city. It was a great impetus to the publishing industry in Kerala, the Minister said.
He claimed that the book festival had also helped revive the cultural scene in Kerala even as the democratic process was facing serious challenges.
It was for the first time that a plan to gift substantial number of books to children was planned. They were given gift coupons worth ₹250 each through various sponsorships and it was a success, the Minister said. He thanked and congratulated the individuals and institutions that helped realise the project. A four-day Festival of Books and Authors too was organised as part of the book festival. The programme was held at the Bolghatty Palace Hotel. The date for the next Krithi Book Festival will be announced shortly, the Minister said.
