The book fair is however being organized on a grander scale this time with 700 stalls, with the organizers giving special emphasis to regional language-stalls. For the first time, there will be stalls that sell books exclusively in south Indian regional languages.
“Chennai has a significant percentage of Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada population. With an aim to encourage reading among one and all, we had send feelers to a few regional publications and they readily agreed to participate in the fair,” elaborates Gandhi Kannadasan, president, BAPASI.
In addition, BAPSAI has rendered an honorary position to Singaporean literature with a stall at the pavilion for the same, where native authors are expected to interact with the local audience.
A special pavilion has also been set up in honour of former President of India – the late Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. In yet another first, Braille system too has been installed to cater to the visually challenged.