Various books organized on the table on the book fair organized by the joint efforts of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Book Centre and community newspaper- Sarokaran di Awaz in Green Plaza, Mcknight NE in Calgary on Sunday, March 17, 2024.(Photo by Snehpreet Kaur/The Press)
First book fair of 2024 organized by Shaheed Bhagat Singh Book Centre and Sarokaran Di Awaz Newspaper
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Book Centre and Sarokaran di Awaz newspaper organized the book fair on the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh.
The book has been organized every year for the past 12 years after every four months in the Green Plaza of Westwinds.
“The main purpose of the book fair is to make a world where there is no hatred and no inequality, which was the dream world of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.” Said Master Bhajan Singh, organizer of the event interviewed in Punjabi, which has been translated into English.
From historical accounts to contemporary fiction, visitors had the opportunity to explore an extensive collection of books curated by both the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Book Centre and Sarokaran Di Awaz.
“I am more diverted towards English literature but today I got a chance to attend this fair and found a lot of really interesting books.” Said Navjot Brar who came to attend the book fair.
Navjot Brar holding a book in her hands on the book fair organized by the joint efforts of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Book Centre and community newspaper- Sarokaran di Awaz in Green Plaza, Mcknight NE in Calgary on Sunday, March 17, 2024.(Photo by Snehpreet Kaur/The Press)
Visitors to the book fair lauded the efforts of the organizers in curating a diverse selection of books that catered to a wide range of interests and preferences. Many expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage with literary works that both informed and inspired them.
People loved to attend the book fair as they met many different people from their country.
“Such events bring our community together.” Said Brar.
About 200 people attended the fair. A news organization called Prime Asia TV also covered the event. Head of Shivalik News, Calgary was also present at the event.
“Today I have met many poets and seniors here who are telling us about our culture and past,” Brar said.
There is a very famous story related to Bhagat Singh that when he was called by the jailer on the day of his hanging, he was reading a book and asked him to wait as he was about to finish the last page.
Bhagat Singh always believed that humans should know everything about the world, then only he will be able to fight against something wrong in this world.
“Bhagat Singh read about 100- 125 books while being imprisoned; he not only read the Punjabi writers but also the writers from all over the world which included a German Marxist, Lenin, Dickens, and many more from all over the world.” Said Singh. Singh added, “Our main purpose is to widen the horizons of the people through reading.”
