IMPHAL, Dec 28 NNN: The 21st Imphal Book Fair 2012 was cut short owing to the recent indefinite Manipur bandh and that participants representing many book firms from outside just had to pack up their things and leave the state in frustration.
This year’s edition of the Imphal Book Fair was organized at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound in Imphal from December 15 under the joined sponsorship of Raja Ram Mohon Roy Foundation, Kolkata, Manipur state Central Library Department and Art & Culture Department, Manipur.
Yet, the book fair that was actually to be concluded on December 24, had to cut short the number of days owing to the recent indefinite Manipur bandh, S Tampakleima Devi, Chief Librarian, State Central Library told NNN Friday.
The book fair was closed for three uninterrupted days—December 21-23—as the Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council in teaming up with various social organisations in the state enforced the bandh from December 21 midnight to protest the Chandel incident wherein film artiste Kh Momoko was reportedly molested by a self-styled Lt Col of NSCN-IM.
Many stalls from outside had to leave the fair when proceeds turned out to be recorded good as the strike hit the state, Tampakleima lamented. Director, Art & Culture Department ended the fair with a simple closing function on December 24 after it was being closed for three days in straight, she said.
In all, 48 book firms including 23 from outside participated at the fair. The total number of book stalls opened by these farms at the fair was 105. These stalls deposited Rs 3,000 each to the Government. Some firms had claimed for return of their deposited money but the concerned department rejected the claim terming it as unreasonable, she said.
However, some book firm owners from outside are still in Imphal. SK Tiwari, business executive, Sunmarg Book Firm, New Delhi while talking to our reporter said the firm had arranged a lot of books costing a total of Rs 56,000 for the fair.
He said the firm had sold books for Rs 20,000 only at the 21st Imphal Book Fair while the firm recorded proceeds of Rs 3 lakh in the previous edition of the fair making a huge profit.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unhappy-ending-for-imphal-book-fair/
