CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin presented the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) awards to the awardees at the closing event of the 49th Chennai Book Fair at YMCA Nandanam on Monday.
After presenting the awards, the Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi remarked, "Previously, large crowds gathered at beaches, theatres, and malls during festival seasons. Now, we see families visiting the book fair in large numbers to buy books."
Pointing out to the Chennai International Book Fair that concluded on Sunday, he said, "With these events, Chennai has become the publishing capital of India. The primary reason Tamil Nadu remains a leading intellectual society is that its people never abandon the habit of reading."
The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted the role of the Dravidian Movement in fostering a culture of reading and writing.
I am happy to stand here as a publisher. Muthamizh Aringar Publication has published 20 books and put up a stall at the book fair. On behalf of the youth wing, we conducted Arivu Thiruvizha last November at Valluvar Kottam, for which the role model was the Chennai Book Fair.Udhayanidhi Stalin
Kuzha Kathiresan of Ainthinai Pathippagam, a native of the Pudukkottai district and recipient of the K Ganapathy Award for Best Publisher, shared his gratitude:
"It is an honour to receive this recognition from Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin. Having authored 40 books with poems translated into languages as diverse as Polish, Russian, Hindi, and Malay, I have always strived to contribute to our literary landscape. This award joins previous honours like the Kalaingar Porkizhi Award and the 2016 Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar."
Besides, the S Meiyappan Award was given to Sivaguru Publishing House for Best Bookseller, Best Children's Writer A Valliyappa Award to Writer M Murugesh, Best Tamil Scholar Pari Chellappan Award to Kadalkarai Mathavilasa Angadam, Best Female Publisher Amsaveni Periyannan Award to J Deepa, Best Children's Science Book Nellai Su Muthu Award to A Lokama Devi, Poetry and Literature Award to CP Sivarasan, Kavitasan Award to Sundara Avudayappan for Best Self-Confidence Book.
School education minister Anbil Mahesh Poiyamozhi, Minister of Health and Family Welfare MA Subramaniyan, MP Tamizhachi Thangapandiyan and BAPASI committee members attended the event.