Celebrations of 100 years of Oxford Bookstore officially launched here on Thursday the 14th with a special logo unveiling. th edition of APJ Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF).
“After being severely affected by the pandemic, it is heartening to see Oxford Bookstore returning to a healthy and vibrant state,” said Preeti Paul, Director, APJ Surendra Group. The group will organize centenary celebrations of the bookstore in cities throughout the year. “The four-day literary festival at AKLF, which hosts sessions on fiction, history, poetry, cinema, translation, dance, art, etc., is a great place to start the celebrations,” he added. Writers and poets including Janice Pariyat, Jeet Thayil, Srinath Perur, Kunal Basu, Bachchi Karkaria, Srabani Basu, Urvashi Butalia and others will hold sessions over the next few days.
Maina Bhagat, Director, Oxford Bookstores, and Director, AKLF, used the occasion to remind patrons of the institution’s journey through the decades, “a journey that reflects the life, times and rich history of Calcutta.” The inauguration was held in the grounds of the renovated colonial era Park Mansion, which won the KMC-INTACH Heritage Award for restoration of an iconic architectural heritage.
Talking about the essence of the Oxford Bookstore, AKLF Director, Anjum Katyal said: “In celebration of 100 years of Oxford Bookstore, AKLF celebrates the infinite and inclusive world of a bookstore that celebrates debate, disagreement and Makes room on your shelves for contrasting points. sight.”
Three sessions on Day 1, ‘More Than a Bookstore’, ‘Restore, Renovate, Re-use’ and ‘The Oxford Para’ ,Celebrated the bookstore with anecdotes and memories.
“The four-day literary festival at AKLF, which includes several sessions on fiction, history, poetry, cinema, translation, dance, art, etc., is a great place to start the celebrations”Preeti PaulDirector, APJ Surendra Group