The 43rd Agartala Book Fair, held at the Hapania International Fair Ground, concluded on Tuesday with an impressive sales figure of approximately ₹1.50 crore, according to official records. The event ended with a grand closing ceremony that included the distribution of awards to honor notable contributions across various fields.
Award Highlights
Award HighlightsSeveral distinguished personalities were recognized for their achievements:
- Art and Fine Arts: Barun Chakraborty received the Dhirendrakrishna Smriti Puraskar.
- Classical Music: Kalipada Bhattacharjee was honored with the Kalikinkar Debbarma Smriti Puraskar.
- Folk Culture: Bishurai Debbarma of Belbari, Jirania, was awarded the Lalan Puraskar.
- Drama: Pradip Das received the Tripuresh Majumder Smriti Puraskar.
- Short Stories: Parijat Dutta was conferred the Bhismadev Smriti Puraskar.
- Bengali Literature: Ashokananda Roy Bardhan of Sabroom received the Salilkrishna Debbarman Smriti Puraskar.
- Best Publications:
- Radhamohan Thakur Smriti Puraskar was awarded to Bani Prakashani for the best Bengali publication.
- Daulat Ahmed Smriti Puraskar went to Kokborok Sahitya Parishad for the best Kokborok publication.
Additional awards recognized excellence in dance, music, sculpture, fine arts, and photography. Senior photojournalist Suman Debroy secured the top spot in the Photo Exhibition Gallery category, alongside other winners in the same category.
Ceremonial Highlights
Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, the chief guest, praised the public’s enthusiasm for books, emphasizing the enduring relevance of books in the digital age. He also highlighted the role of book fairs in fostering connections with intellectual and creative communities.
Prof. Arunoday Saha, former Vice-Chancellor of Tripura Central University, described book fairs as a cornerstone of cultural life, while author Naresh Chandra Debbarma applauded the fair’s impact on Tripura’s publishing industry and its contribution to social harmony.
Other speakers included Ajit Debbarma, secretary of the Tripura Publishers’ Guild, and representatives from book sellers’ associations. Dr. P.K. Chakraborty, secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) department, noted in his welcome address that the fair hosted 180 stalls and achieved sales of around ₹1.50 crore.
Prominent attendees included Subrata Chakraborty, Vice-Chairman of the State Level Cultural Advisory Committee; Biswajit Shil, Saha-Sabhadhipati of Paschim Tripura Zilla Parishad; Manika Das Dutta, Deputy Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation; and Bimbisar Bhattacharjee, Secretary of the ICA Department.
The 43rd Agartala Book Fair successfully celebrated literature, culture, and the arts, leaving a lasting impact on its participants and the broader community.
