Readers Throng Balrampur Garden for Ambedkar, Kabir and Awadhi Verse

Lucknow: The 23rd National Book Fair at Balrampur Garden completed its fifth day on Monday, with book launches, poetry sessions, literary discussions and cultural programmes keeping visitors engaged from morning to night. Dalit literature and writings on social justice emerged as a major draw, with a number of titles finding enthusiastic readers.

At the Samyak Prakashan stall, which specialises in Buddhist and Dalit literature, visitors showed interest in R.L. Chandrapuri's Brahmin Raj in India and the Backward Class Movement, Rajkumar Historian's Nagvanshi Bharat, and Naye Auzaar Se Kabir Ki Khudai by Dr Rajendra Prasad Singh and Dr Shashikala. Sundarlal Sagar's Yadav (Jatav) Jeevan, first published in 1929, has also been reissued. The stall additionally offers Ambedkarite literature, memorabilia and gift items.

Setu Prakashan drew attention with Ashok Gopal's award-winning translated work Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar: Life and Thought. Rajpal's stall featured Ambedkar and Parliamentary Democracy, edited by Ratanlal. The Constitution Promotion stall displayed books on the Constitution in various formats, along with Dr Devendra Pratap Yadav's Zehrila Bahumat, which raises contemporary questions about democracy. Another new title, Bahujan Par Pradarshak, edited by Ramkumar Gautam, profiles 26 personalities. Among Buddhist titles, Dr Jagannath Upadhyay's Bharat Ko Buddha Dharma Ki Den remained a notable work.

At Prabhat Prakashan, author Mahendra Kumar Agrawal met visitors to discuss his new book Mera Sambhal Mahan, which covers Sambhal's history, Kalki Dham, the Harihar Temple, local Sanatan traditions and sati memorials.

On the main stage, the Uttar Pradesh Sahitya Sabha held its Pranam Parivar Samman and a poetry programme conceived by Sarvesh Asthana. Family members paid tribute to poets and literary figures including Narendra Garal of Badaun, Balram Srivastava of Mainpuri, Arjun Singh Chand, Dr Rajiv Raj of Etawah and Gajendra Priyanshu of Barabanki. A poetry session, directed by Mukul Mahan, followed.

Earlier in the day, the Navsrijan programme saw the launch of two books, the essay collection Sadchitt Anand and the poetry collection K Se Kavi, in the presence of Dr Mithilesh Dixit, Prof Om Prakash Pandey, Om Neerav, Narendra Bhushan, Yogesh and others. The All India A-Geet Parishad organised a poetry programme featuring compositions in a range of moods. A dialogue on Awadhi literature brought together Padma Shri Vidyabindu Singh, Dr Ram Bahadur Misir, Dr Karuna Pandey, Vijay Bhaskar Pandey and Dr Harishankar Mishra.

On the second stage, Sanjeev Jaiswal read from his fiction, and an open-mic session encouraged conversation on books and literature. In the evening, the Jan Sanskriti Manch hosted the launch of Kaushal Kishore's Samay, Sahitya Aur Samaj, chaired by litterateur Shakeel Siddiqui. Siddiqui, Dinesh Priyaman, Dr Usha Rai, Shailesh Pandit and Kumar Vineetabh shared their views on the book, which examines contemporary social realities. Shantam Nidhi conducted the programme, and secretary Farzana Mehdi delivered the vote of thanks.

Entry to the fair is free, and it remains open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. Visitors are being offered a minimum 10 per cent discount on every book purchase.

The fair is organised by Force One, with support from UP Metro, Radio City, Origins, Kiran Foundation, Join Hands Foundation, Lokangan, Vishwam Foundation, Vijay Studio, Golden Grass and Kavita Kisse Kahaniyan.