The mascot of the upcoming 48^th International Kolkata Book Fair was unveiled in the presence of Sudhangshu Sekhar Dey, Tridib Kr Chatterjee, Ms. Barbara Voss, Hon’ble Consul General of Germany in Kolkata, Ms. Astrid Wege, Director, Goethe Institut, Kolkata, and other eminent guests.

The 48^th International Kolkata Book Fair will be inaugurated on 28 January 2025 at 4 pm at the Boimela Prangan, Salt Lake, by Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee. It will be graced by the delegates from Germany, along with authors, dignitaries, and Hon’ble Ministers of Bengal.

The highlights of this year’s International Kolkata Book Fair are as follows:

About a thousand stalls and Little Magazines will be there. There will be the same number of stalls as the previous year.

The International Kolkata Book market is evolving into a truly open-air book fair this year. The halls where the English-language publishers used to be located will no longer exist. Rather, all English language participants will have access to a special “Premier Area”. At the same time, the Guild has significantly lowered the contribution cost for the stalls for the convenience of the English-language participants.

On February 4, Chiro Tarun, or Senior Citizen’s Day will be commemorated. On that day, a senior reader, senior publisher, and senior author will engage in an interactive session. The first Sunday of February 2025, will be designated as Children’s Day.

For guests’ convenience, the IKBF 2025 will include nine entry and exit gates. The German author Goethe will be honored by one of the gates, while Max Mueller, a German-born philologist and orientalist, will be honored by another.

The birth centenary year of Narayan Sanyal, Salil Chowdhury, Rhittik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha, Arundhuti Debi, and the 125^th Birth year of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Jibananda Das will be celebrated in the Book Fair.

The Sister Nivedita University-developed International Kolkata Book Fair 2025 Android app, which uses Google location to find any stand at the fair, will soon be accessible. Additionally, the IKBF 2025 will be virtually present via the Book Fair’s website and social media accounts. Those who are remaining overseas can take advantage of Book Fair’s online offerings.

At all Book Fair entry points, a unique digital ground map including the IKBF 2025 participant list will be accessible by just scanning a QR code.

Peerless Hospitex Hospital And Research Centre Limited offers a unique ambulance-based medical aid service. The International Kolkata Book Fair 2025 will feature participation from about 20 countries worldwide.

“Buy books and win a Book Library” is a Guild effort that aims to spread the opportunity to more and more book lovers as part of its commitment to society. The winners of the daily lottery will receive Book Gift Coupons.

The 11th edition of the Kolkata Literature Festival, which will take place for three days from February 6–8, 2025, within the SBI auditorium, will be the main event of the International Kolkata Book Fair.

The International Kolkata Book Fair will take place from 28^th January to 9^th February.

Priyanka Dutta