More than 2,500 new books have been published at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2016 so far, yet classics seem to be high on demand among avid readers.
It is not only classic Bangla literature that the readers look for; translation of foreign classics are also popular, according to many book stall attendants and publishers at the fair.
They said the demand for classics have never really diminished; rather, it had increased over the years – more so in the past decade. So to meet the demand, publishers have been bringing in reprints and new editions of the literary classics at the fair every year.
“We have brought an 11-volume set of the works of Syed Mujtaba Ali, which has proven to be very popular among readers and earned us their praise,” said Tahir M Asif, in-charge of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro stall. “It is perhaps one of our best sales at the fair this year.”
“Classics are timeless. They retain their glory through generations of readers. These books are useful to understand society, culture and literature as well,” said renowned writer and Dhaka University professor Syed Manzoorul Islam.
Shammi Soha, a student at Buet, said she had bought books of Syed Mujtaba Ali and Shawkat Osman. “I like the works of these two writers. I have been planning to collect some other classics too.”
Of the foreign literature, the translation of Iliad, an ancient Greek epic by Homer, was one of the most sought-after classic, said attendants of Pathak Samabesh stall.
Attendants at the stalls of different publishing houses said other Bangali authors whose works are among the most popular choices include literary greats like Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay and Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay.
In children’s literature, works of Sukumar Ray, Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumder and Upendrokishore Ray are most on demand.
Yesterday saw at least 64 new books published, raising the number of new arrivals at 2,670.
