Dasara book fair gets lukearm response

The Dasara Book Fair (Kannada Pusthaka Marata Mela), organised by Kannada and Culture department, Kannada Book Authority and Dasara Committee held on the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) premises, received a lukewarm response. The footfall of bibliophiles to the book fair has declined compared to previous years of Dasara.

Harish Kumar of the authority said, "The visitors to book stalls are too less, compared to previous Dasara. If the government had provided a proper place for stalls in the city, it would have helped the readers to buy books."

He said, the visitors are finding it difficult to locate the fair venue. Tejapal of Vismaya Prakashana, who is experienced in selling books for 45 years, said, "This year, during the initial three days, business was very dull.”.

Retired government official L S N Acharaya stated that due to the influence of modern technologies like smart phones, the habit of reading books is declining among youngsters.

Dr D Nataraj from KR Nagar said, "Every year, I purchase books worth Rs 5,000. At present, the habit of reading good books among youth is declining. The youth are influenced and dominated by advanced technologies like internet, social media, smart phones and TV. In book fairs, we see only senior citizens buying books.”

Yogish Acharya from Navakarnataka Publications said, the organisers should allocate proper place, where people gather in large numbers like Yuva Dasara, to attract more readers to books stalls.