150th anniversary of 'Vande Mataram' to be central theme of Kolkata Book Fair

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The central theme for the next edition of the International Kolkata Book Fair will be the 150th anniversary of national song ‘Vande Mataram’, the organisers said on Monday.

The 50th International Kolkata Book Fair will be held from January 22 to February 3 next year.

Israel could be considered as the theme country, they said.

The final decision on the theme country will be taken by the advisory committee in due course, the organisers said.

“The central theme for next year’s book fair is 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’. It is an important chapter linked to the freedom movement, nationalism and India’s history,” Book Fair Advisory Committee convenor Prosenjit Bakshi told reporters here.

The next edition is also likely to focus on several aspects of Bengal’s history, literature and socio-cultural life, he said.

The committee is considering showcasing the history of Partition, and the circumstances that led to the formation of West Bengal, he said.

The ‘Bengal Renaissance’ will also feature prominently, with the 200th birth anniversary of Rajnarayan Basu being considered for inclusion in the fair’s programmes, Bakshi stated.

Popular culture is likely to find a place, too, with the centenary of legendary actor Uttam Kumar and the 100th anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore’s play ‘Raktakarabi’ among the subjects being considered, he said.

On stall allocation, the committee said it was considering a technology-driven system similar to those used at major book fairs globally.

Stalls could be allocated through computerised or automated systems, with different-sized units being created and combined according to the requirements of publishers, Bakshi said.

The final decision on Bangladesh’s participation at the fair is also likely to depend on the stance of the Union Home and External Affairs ministries, he said.

Bangladesh did not feature in 2025 and 2026 due to political developments in the neighbouring country.

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