Delhi Book Fair : Some interesting stalls for you

With the first big weekend out of the way, some interesting book stalls out of 600 at the ongoing fair at Pragati Maidan. The list excludes prominent stalls of publishers like Penguin or Rupa, which enthusiasts are likely to visit anyway

Sahitya Akademi (Hall 10, Stall 10)

In keeping with its well stocked library at Mandi House, the Sahitya Akademi stall represents the country’s linguistic diversity with books in Konkani, Malayalam, Assamese and many others. Documentaries on literary heavyweights such as O V Vijayan, Nirmal Verma, Bhisham Sahni and others are available for as little as Rs 90. “I am glad Sahitya Akademi is still dedicated to showcasing writers from Indian languages,” said R Manikandan, a retired government official.

Rave Media (Hall 11, Stall 60)

This is an astonishingly diverse exhibitor, carrying books from across genres. From Thorstein Veblen to DC Comics, and books on Che Guevara to this year’s bestselling novel, Amit Varma’s My Friend Sancho, this stall can satisfy all age groups at the same time. After getting hold of a copy of The Lord of The Rings, 11-year-old Ankush Gupta said, “I want to finish the book, so that I can understand the film better.”

Viva Books (Hall 11, Stall 35)

For the academically inclined, Viva Books has been bringing out books by philosophers like Deleuze and Guattari at affordable prices. This year’s stall has all that and more, including all titles of the popular Beginning series. You might just find that one academic book that you have been hunting for a long time. “Most books by western philosophers are extremely expensive; these cheaper editions allow us access to that sphere of thought,” said Saurabh Kumar, a MA student in JNU.

Vani Prakashan (Hall 10, Stall 2)

For lovers of Hindi literature, this is a must-visit stall. From Premchand’s entire oeuvre to poets such as Firaq Gorakhpuri, it houses a formidable collection of genres and authors. The work of writers such as Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai is available in Hindi, along with many others. “The dominance of English sometimes makes one feel that our books do not exist,” said Kalpana Sharma, 55.

Shrijee’s Book International (Hall 9, Stall 5)

With books selling at a flat rate of Rs 100, this is heaven for pulp fiction readers. There are some lovely second-hand picture books by Life magazine. If you look hard enough, you may find an Joyce Carol Oates or a Saul Bellow lying amid the Sidney Sheldons and John Grishams. “The books here are affordable and in good condition, even though most are second-hand,” Delhi University student Rahul Kumar said.