Kolkata: Following chief minister Mamata Banerjee‘s announcement at the recently concluded 49th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) of providing a Rs 10 crore grant for developing a ‘Boi Tirtha’ in the city, the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of IKBF, have submitted a detailed project plan to the state govt on the proposal.According to the plans, it would be a six-storey building, preferably near the Salt Lake Central Park book fair ground. The plan includes setting up a complete archive-cum-museum on the chronology and history of books, along with auditoriums and seminar halls. All kinds of rare and valuable books will be on display, and visitors will also be able to buy books from the place.
“We have placed a detailed project plan to the state govt. We have requested the govt to provide us with the nearest location to the Central Park book fair ground, and a rough building structure of ‘Boi Tirtha’ which could be further developed through private partnership,” said Guild general secretary Tridib Chatterjee.There will be parking space on the ground floor, followed by a book mall on the next floor. “The idea is to have a complete book mall where book lovers will be able to buy books of national and international authors and best sellers,” said a guild official.We have also planned to build an archive and museum of books, which will include a display of old and rare ancient manuscripts. “There will be a chronological timeline of how manuscripts and books evolved over the ages,” added the guild official.There are plans to have a banquet and seminar halls where literary festivals and other events could be organised. Besides, there will be guest accommodation facilities on another floor for foreign dignitaries and others who would be coming to the city to attend different literary and cultural events.It was at the inaugural programme of the 49th IKBF that Chatterjee appealed to the CM to develop a ‘Boi Tirtha’ on the lines of Jagannath Dham and Durga Angan. The CM accepted the proposal and asked the guild authorities to submit an official letter on the proposal, saying that the state information and culture department will give Rs 10 crore to the guild for this purpose.
