The Colombo International Book Fair:

Reading, or reading up for the rat race?

by Rikaza Hassan

The Colombo International Book Fair teemed with life throughout the day and night with the weekends attracting a larger than ever crowd. What with every publishing house, book shop, art supply and stationery stall offering at least a ten per cent discount on items, literally people of all ages and station in life thronged the massive BMICH and SBEC buildings.

"I come here to buy my children's text books every year," says Mrs. Rizwie who came fully prepared with a long list of the books needed and a friend for company who was also there for the same purpose.

"I go around the various book stalls and get their prices and only then buy it at the book shop with the lowest prices. It's a huge saving for us since international school text books are so very expensive and even a ten per cent discount added ten times over collects in to the thousands. Of course, it takes me an entire day at least but still so very worth it."

Yet another bargain hunter was 14 year old "book enthusiast" Shehara who was at the fair with her father. "I came here on the first day to buy whatever texts I need for school. Today I came after school to scout out the fiction they have. I want to buy a few Stephen King, James Herbert novels, some classics and try out some new authors as well for my personal collection. Here I can get a twenty per cent discount which brings the price down quite a lot."

It's not just parents and children who cash in on this annual opportunity, but many schools send their teachers to scout out for good additions to their libraries. One particular group of teachers from outstation even brought a labourer with them to load the boxes of books that they purchased into their vehicle. Yet another book shop had a special billing counter for such groups in an effort to further smoothen the purchasing process.

Despite the massive crowds however, many a persons walked out of the fair with no purchases in their belonging. Speaking to a group of A/L students from a school in the suburbs who had taken the day off from school to be at the BMICH, they claimed to be at the fair for "various reasons" while emphasising that the primary reason was to purchase books.

Nevertheless when asked to show me what they had purchased, they were only able to produce a single book between the eight of them even though they had finished their tour when I spoke to them. They cited this also as an opportunity to "yaluwo kattiyathekka set venna."

A further reason was quite obvious in their roaming eyes and coarse remarks they passed at passing females. With food and drink galore, families wandered about as though they were simply having a picnic at the zoo. Taking a collective rest from all the sightseeing with his two children with containers of Maggi noodles and coke and tea was Mr. Silva. "Api poth balannai avey" - we came to see the books.

He was of the opinion that there was no point in buying books at the fair since it was impossible to properly select with the large crowd and that it was better to buy at the regular book store which offered discounts throughout the month of September.

It wasn't just teenage boys on the look out for love or families on an outing that climbed the quote-lined pillared steps into the area of the fair, but couples linked at the arms and waists as well. Seemingly taking a break from the bat inhabited Viharamahadevi or the scorching hot Galle Face, the pairs cavorted hidden in the bushes or affectionately caressed each other in the open outer perimeter.

However, what everyone agreed to was that the annual book fair was indeed a "good thing" for everyone concerned and that despite the fact that most of us read only when required to do so, celebrating a literary month with such grand style was "just fine."