Stalls selling books on politics, secularism a big draw during Durga Puja
The Hindu
Amidst Durga Puja celebrations, stalls selling Marxist/Progressive lit. saw 20% sales increase. Titles like Noorani's 'RSS & BJP', Bhattacharjee's 'Nazi Germanyir Janm O Mritu' & Ghatge's 'Modinama' popular. CPI(M) leaders visit stalls to connect to people & discuss welfare issues. Youth buying books on politics ahead of 2024 LS polls.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Durga Puja celebrations, stalls outside big-ticket pandals selling ‘Marxist and Progressive Literature’ saw increased sales compared to the previous year.
According to the National Book Agency (NBA), a publishing house established by legendary Communist leader Muzaffar Ahmad in 1939, the sale of books at the stalls set up near puja pandals has increased by 20% compared to the last year.
More than 700 stalls came up in Kolkata and districts of West Bengal this puja, NBA director Aniruddha Chakravarti said, adding that though the number of stalls had not increased much, the sales have been encouraging in 2023.
Mr. Chakravarti said that books on politics, secularism, fascism as well as those critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been a big draw at the NBA stalls.
Titles like Bengali translation of A.G. Noorani’s ‘The RSS and the BJP: A Division of Labour (RSS BJP O Srame Bibhajhan)‘, ‘Sampradayikta Hindutva O RSSer Bipod (Communalism, Hindutva and dangers of the RSS)‘ published by Communist Unity Centre of India (CITU) and former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s book ‘Nazi Germanyir Janm O Mritu (The birth and death of Nazi Germany)‘ are among the books that have been sought after at the NBA stalls.
The other publications that have recorded better sales are ‘Modinama: Issues that did not matter’ by Subhas Ghatge, ‘Fasibaad Otit-O Bartaman (Fascism - Its History and Present)’ by trade unionist Sukomal Sen and memoirs of CPI(M) leaders Biman Bose and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
“The tradition of having book stalls near Durga Puja pandals started as early as 1954,” Mr. Chakravarti said, adding that even during the Jagadhatri Puja of Chandannagar and Kali Puja, some stalls are set up to sell books.
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