Why do people go to the book fair?

Risingbd Desk: If you look up Kolkata Book Fair, there`s a high possibility that amid thousands of crowd and book pictures, you`ll find hundreds of images showing people about to bite into a food item.

 

It could be anything from gorom chops to norom rolls. There`s a fish for every fry at the fair. For the more adventurous, there`s (hold your breath) fried ricechilli chicken too! Gulp, burp, smile, #DinnerAtBookFair selfie! Of course, the fair is as much about `phood` as it`s about selfies and er... books. Also, since basanta really eshe geche and all`s `fair` in love, jhaaribaji toh banta hai! CT offers you some other `real` reasons why people absolutely and dutifully go to the book fair...

 

TO ENJOY FREE CONCERTS

 

There`s always some boro tip wearing hottie or leather band sporting dude singing away to glory songs like Prithibi Kolonkini Radha, Dhoom pichak dhoom Hey Jude , , and Roobaroo, oblivious to the crowd at the fair. The black tee and torn jeans wearing guitar gods may have graduated from melas, but a dotara, mouth organ or mandolin player is easy to find. If you spot them, the idea is to keep calm and just huddle.Books can wait.

 

IT`S THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE IT TO THE NEWS

 

Shotti! Almost every local news channel is stationed at the fair. All you need to do is unleash your elbow, nudge others (even the reporter, if you must) and seek out the lens. Voila! You`re on TV! Call your friends, family, partner, colleagues, roommates, neighbours, maid, bariwala, cablewala and ask them to just tune into the channel.For once, the `news` can be tuned out.

 

TO BUY EVERYTHING APART FROM BOOKS -PAPER FLOWERS, BAGS...

 

It`s a `mela` re pagol! It`s absolutely mandatory to buy those ugly paper I flowers with long stems, message T-shirts, oxidized and terracotta jewellery, big posters of infants, faded stamps, white and blue ceramic vases and crockery, tote and sling bags, mats, wallhangings... There`s no way you won`t spot at least a handful of people leaving the fair with at least one of these items. `Item`, truly!

 

TO SHOW OFF

 

Boss, admit it -you splurged in last week`s bumper sale so that you could show off. And what better place than the book fair, isn`t it! If you can throw some heavy names like "Coelho" and "Kafka" at your friendpartner, you have truly arrived. For the not-so-bholas with the jholas, however, it`s all about being seen at the right place (read, book fair), with the right company (not always books)."Me intellectual" attitude anyone? Yes... that!

 

CELEB-SPOTTING

 

Oita Swastika na?", "Oi dekh, Rii na ki jeno?", "Orre baas chobi-r Feluda boi pore!" Yes, there are always some who keep their eyes open to spot nayak-nayikas and ears clean to catch gossip. Well, there might be world-renowned speakers participating in seminars at the fair, but guru, celeb toh last gate`er right side`er third dokaan tay ache! "Chol, chol..."

 

IT`S THE IDEAL PLACE FOR BLIND DATES

 

C`mon, a person would have to be blind to miss the Milan Mela ground -doesn`t matter which part of the city they hail from. And it`s called `milan` mela for a reason! But if the guy says, "Oh, I know AC Milan", and the girl quotes Begum Aktar`s Piya milan hum jaib ho, it`s best to give the fair a miss and blindly look for another date -at the fair of course!

 

Source: TOI

 

risingbd/ Feb 4, 2015/ Mahfuz/ Augustin Sujan