Bangladesh turmoil hits Bengali publishers at Kolkata book fair

The ongoing unrest Bangladesh appears to have negatively affected Kolkata's publishing industry, PTI reports citing stakeholders today (12 December). 

According to the report, sales of books by Bengali authors from both sides of the border and the number of "floating" buyers — those who make impulsive book purchases — have shown a noticeable decline.

The absence of the Bangladesh book pavilion at the upcoming Kolkata International Book Fair, the city's largest literary event, further underscores the situation. 

Publishers with business ties to Dhaka have reported a nearly 40% drop in floating readers of Bangladeshi titles over the past two weeks, painting a grim picture for the industry.

Floating readers constitute a substantial portion of book sales, as they often make unplanned purchases during visits to stalls. While the cross-border import and export of books remain largely unaffected, and regular readers continue to frequent bookstores, the reduced sales of Bengali books on both sides of the border remain a pressing concern for stakeholders in Kolkata's iconic College Street book hub.

"While 60–70% of committed readers still visit our College Street bookshop and our representative's stall in Dhaka, we've noticed a significant 30–40% drop in floating readers recently," said Sudip Dey, director of Dey's Publishing, a leading seller-publisher of Bangladeshi writers and publications.

Dey attributed the decline to growing instability in Bangladesh over the past months, with a sharp dip in the last 15 days following violent incidents and related protests. These events, amplified by social media, have shaped public perceptions and influenced purchasing behavior.

Partha Shankar Basu, owner of Naya Udyog — Kolkata's primary publisher, exporter, and importer of books — acknowledged the decline affecting the publishing industry in both countries. 

"This downturn is not linked to politics or violence. The majority of discerning Bangladeshi and Indian readers will not abandon their lifelong reading habits," Basu stated. 

He expressed confidence that the industry would rebound from this temporary setback in due course. 

"Organisers of upcoming book fairs in various towns across West Bengal, scheduled for December–January, are in regular contact with us to arrange the dispatch of books by Bangladeshi authors," said Basu. 

"We are also preparing to send books to the Agartala Book Fair. So far, we haven't heard of any plans to exclude Bangladeshi literary works from these events. However, given the broader economic slowdown, footfall may be lower."

Basu warned that the current uncertainties might lead to a rise in piracy of Bengali books in both countries.

"The grey market is thriving on both sides of the border. In Kolkata, including areas like College Street, you can easily find pirated editions of Humayun Ahmed's books, which are in high demand due to their affordability. Similarly, in Dhaka, pirated versions of works by Sunil Gangopadhyay, Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay, and other prominent Bengali writers from India are widely available," he claimed.

Meanwhile, Sudip Dey noted that the export and import of books remain steady, with orders coming in from both Indian and Bangladeshi readers through physical visits and online platforms. 

However, he acknowledged a noticeable drop in the number of Bangladeshi visitors to Kolkata due to restrictions on tourist visas.

"Currently, only 2-3 Bengali-speaking visitors from Bangladesh visit our bookshop daily, seeking works by their favorite Indian or Bangladeshi authors," Dey said.

He highlighted the enduring popularity of Bangladeshi authors like Hasan Azizul Huq, Jasimuddin, Badruddin Umar, Humayun Ahmed, and Sadat Hossain among Indian readers. Conversely, Indian authors such as Sunil Gangopadhyay, Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Shakti Chattopadhyay, and contemporary writers like Pracheta Gupta and Swapnamoy Chakraborty continue to be in high demand among Bangladeshi readers.

"I firmly believe that book sales cannot be diminished by violence, strife, or political disputes. Both countries have bibliophiles and passionate readers who keep the literary culture alive," he asserted.

However, Dey refrained from disclosing exact figures for the monthly export and import of books between India and Bangladesh.

An official from the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the apex body of publishers in Bengal, stated that while the book trade between the two countries—worth several crores—has seen a 20% decline since July, this is more likely due to a sluggish market than recent unrest.

"We will need more time to fully analyze the impact of these developments," Dey concluded.