Looming clouds on the Ekushey Book Fair

As the fountainhead of Bangalee ethos, the February 21, 1952 continues to inspire the nation for scaling greater height. It grew into the unstoppable all-pervasive transcendence into the greatest achievement the Bangalees have ever made---an independent land of their own. To commemorate the sacrifice of the martyrs of the Language Movement, therefore, the ritual of offering floral wreaths at the Shaheed Minar alone proved not enough. The tragic event of the day was turned into a month-long observance ---one that transcends the boundary of rituals into a quest for the soul of the nation. The Ekushey Book Fair thus takes its roots into that quest for self discovery.

This year should have been a stand-out occasion for the book fair. But unfortunately, things do not look at all auspicious. The contention of a Bangla contemporary is quite concerning. According to it, 18 publishing houses that have always been in the forefront of publications of creative, popular and other genres of books have been blacklisted by some quarters. They have been creating pressure on the Bangla Academy to cancel allocation of pavilions and book stalls to those publishers at the book fair. Already, the allocation of a pavilion has been cancelled.

Now, what exactly are the allegations against the publishers? In simple words, these publishers enjoyed favouritism during the past regime. Unless their books are in demand no publishers would go for a stall, let alone pavilion. The blacklisted publishers have published seminal books on the War of Liberation, the Bangalee nationhood and other subjects that are close to the heart of this nation. No wonder that readers and book lovers have always crowded in front of those pavilions and stalls. Books used to be sold like hot cakes from their outlets.

Now the quarter that has been raising complaint against these publishers are following in the footsteps of others who have enforced some irrational restrictions on the free speech and independence of people without any political affiliation. In fact, the arm-twisting tactic is being employed here as well. But why?

Books are written records. Progressive and highly creative writers own what they have produced. No one can compel readers to purchase a particular author's books. If the book is world class, popular and with appeal for its particular style of writing, readers will only prefer those books. If they do not like a book, no amount of persuasion or pressure can make them purchase or read the book.

The bottom line is that the books published by a particular publisher or publishers should be left to the discretion of the readers. They are sovereign in making their choice for a book or books. Which books the readers will look for and which they will reject should not be any authoritative concern. The readers enjoy complete freedom in this regard. If pressures are created to keep publishers out of the book fair, readers may as well make their own decision to boycott the Ekushey book fair. They are not supposed to participate spontaneously to make the book fair a success.

This will certainly not be good for the Ekushey Book Fair. The quarter trying to create a division between and among publishers would do well to inspire their own favourite publishers to produce books of the highest quality in order to make appeal to the readers and book lovers. Those who love books do not look at the publishers, but inquire about writers. There is no problem if more talented writers emerge churning out books with popular appeal.

So any attempt at blacklisting publishers or writers should be resisted right from the beginning. This does not augur well for a country not particularly advanced in book publishing. It should be considered in the global context. Otherwise, the flickering light of the publishing industry will go off once for all.