VISHWA Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised a book stall at Kolkata International Book Fair. It was the first ever initiative by any constituent of the Sangh associated organisations in the annual literary itinerary of the city. Swami Bandhu Gaurav Maharaj of Mahanaam Angan along with eminent scholar Shri Tathagat Roy inaugurated the book stall on January 25. VHP spokesperson Shri Prakash Sharma was also present on the occasion. The Fair will conclude on February 6.
The well decorated VHP stall (No. 403) has a modest collection of some 2,000 books, mostly on Hindutva and nationalist ideology. The VHP workers also organised an audio-visual show to highlight different social and educational service activities undertaken by the VHP.
Kolkatans flocked the book stall in large numbers. Students, youths, professionals, housewives, senior citizens – all visited the stall and purchased books. Every visitor was presented one complimentary copy of Sri Hanuman Chalisa, one booklet on VHP and one photograph of the proposed Sri Ram temple at Ayodhya. The rush was so huge that few books were exhausted within four-five days.
VHP general secretary Dr Pravin Togadia also visited the stall on January 31. He spent about 30 minutes inside the stall and also addressed the media persons present there. He took special interest in English and Hindi section of books and personally recommended few books to the book lovers and VHP activists present there. Dr Togadia also visited the stall of Girija Library and Bharat Sevashram Sangha. (VSK, Kolkata)
