Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan will inaugurate the forthcoming edition of the Kochi International Book Festival (KIBF) at Ernakulathappan Ground on November 2.
This edition, featuring about 300 publishers, 200 writers and educationists and nearly 10 lakh books, will also have pavilions set up by culture departments of various States. The festival will be under way till November 11 and the concluding ceremony will have Goa Governor Mridula Sinha as the chief guest. A seminar to commemorate the 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will have V. Kalyanam, Gandhiji’s personal secretary, and Annamalai, Gandhi Museum director, taking part in it.
Awards instituted in the name of journalist Leela Menon will be presented during the fest. The Balamani Amma Award will be presented to lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi on November 8. Noted writers in 11 languages, including those from the northeast, will take part in the fest. Malayalam will be represented by M. Leelavathy, M.K. Sanoo, C. Radhakrishnan, O.V. Usha, K.L. Mohanavarma and others. Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Gopi is slated to be part of a discussion on the texts of performing arts.
A handicraft exhibition will be held alongside the book fest.