Book fair in Tiruchy to help publishers affected by flood

Chennai

Speaking to dt Next, Mr Gandhi Kannadhasan, president of BAPASI said that several book publishers from Chennai had suffered huge losses due to the recent flood in Chennai and its neighbouring districts. “The quantum of cumulative loss suffered by our members and non-members will be about Rs.25 crore and not even 25 per cent of them have insurance cover. So we not only want to help them financially but also motivate them to run their business as usual,” he said.

Hearing the news about the loss suffered by publishers in Chennai and subsequent postponement of Chennai book fair, prominent booksellers from Tiruchy and Vellore called up Mr Kannadhasan and assured that they could help BAPASI to organise a book fair in their area. “Based on the goodwill gesture we will be organising a book fair in Tiruchy between January 9 and 18. Even though it may not be as big as the Chennai one with over 800 stalls, we will have about 150 stalls in Tiruchy. At a point when you (book publishers) don’t have anything, at least we can help them earn some money. As the Chennai book fair is postponed they can earn a part of their livelihood from the Trichy & Vellore bookfairs and get ready for Chennai one,” he said.

Adding to Mr Kannadhasan, Mr Pugalendhi. K.S, secretary of BAPASI said that as several book readers in Chennai had suffered huge financial damages in the recent flood, besides being affected psychologically, it would be difficult for them to buy books in the Chennai book fair. “As we have to help them too, we have postponed the Chennai book fair to April,” he added.