Students at the book fair at Town Hall in Pudukkottai | M Muthu Kannan

Pudukkottai district’s fifth annual book fair, which drew to a close on Sunday, saw a footfall of around one lakh in students alone and recorded over Rs 2 crore in sales. The numbers are attributed to the district administration’s aid, particularly in drawing schoolchildren there.

Thanga Moorthy, one of the organizers of the book fair that began on July 29 at Town Hall, said students from close to three hundred schools and colleges in the district were in attendance. Sales clocked above Rs 2 crore, which was higher in comparison to other years, he added. The book fair was organized for ten days and invited eminent speakers from across Tamil Nadu to speak

The moment a speaker suggested a good book people eagerly bought it. It’s very encouraging, he said. When asked which book was in demand, he replied, “Ponniyin Selvan”.

While S Murugesan of NCBH stall stressed on the district administration’s support in drawing eager schoolchildren to the fair, Laxmi Priya of the Kalachuvadu stall said,

We promote the literature. On average, I would say it wasn’t profitable.” The per-day collection had not crossed Rs 10,000, Priya said. While E Sudhakar, a student bought the Tamil translation of John Perkins’ ‘Confessions of an Economic Hitman’ and a book by V Irai Anbu at the fair, M Rajarajeshwari, another student, said her teachers suggested the best books. Students from Classes 6-12 came in two buses. It was a good experience, she added.