Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will inaugurate the 47th Chennai Book Fair and give away the Kalaignar M Karunanidhi Porkizhi annual literary awards at the YMCA grounds near Nandanam in Chennai on Wednesday.
According to the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), which organises the annual event, the chief minister will inaugurate the event at 4.30 pm. The 19-day fair will remain open from 2 pm to 8.30 pm on working days and from 11 am to 8.30 pm on holidays.
Apart from Porkizhi awards, which will be given to six people under the categories of prose, poetry, novel, short story, drama and translation, nine BAPASI awards will also be distributed.
The fair will have about 9,00 stalls and a 10 per cent discount on all books.
The Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, World Tamil Research Centre, Sahitya Akademi, Dr Ambedkar Foundation, National Book Trust, Thanjavur Tamil University and others such as Penguin Random House India, British Council, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster India will participate in the fair.
South India Buddha Vihar, Voice of Buddha, Ezhuchi Publication House, Thadagam Publications and Thirunangai Press LLP have also been allotted stalls.
The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation has set up a stall to help artisans as well as exhibit their work. The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department will also have a stall.
An entry fee of Rs 10 will be collected from visitors except for school and college students, who can walk in on producing their identity cards.
