LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Book Fair, currently underway at Ravindralaya Lawns, is attracting a diverse crowd of bibliophiles. Alongside Hindi novels by renowned authors like Munshi Premchand, Saadat Hasan Manto, and Rabindranath Tagore, anime books and self-help titles are proving to be popular choices.
Teenagers are particularly drawn to Japanese anime novels such as “One Piece,” “Kaiju,” “Naruto,” “Tokyo Ghoul,” and “Chainsaw Man.” These titles share the spotlight with classic favorites like “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “The Blue Umbrella.”
Thirteen-year-old Shreyansh Tiwari, accompanied by his sister Shweta (20), was spotted browsing the anime section.“I’ve been watching anime for a while now,” he shared, “but I wanted to reduce my screen time, so I decided to buy some books instead.”
Another young visitor, Aryan Mishra (14), came with his brother Sudhanshu (24) and ended up picking novels by Ruskin Bond. “I love visiting book fairs because they introduce me to new authors,” he explained. “After exploring the different options, I chose Ruskin Bond’s work, based on my brother’s recommendation.”
The fair also caters to those interested in Dalit literature, with titles like “Annihilation of Caste” and “Joothan” finding an audience. Self-help books like “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” “Atomic Habits,” and “The Alchemist” are also in demand, alongside works by literary giants like Premchand, Manto, Tagore, and RK Narayan.
Shashank Pandey, a 25-year-old PhD. scholar, was specifically looking for books on Dalit literature. “Book fairs are great for finding specific books you’re interested in,” he remarked.
Beyond bibliophiles themselves, parents are actively seeking resources for their children. Reusable practice books, colouring books, short stories, and alphabet-related books are attracting parents like Rita Dixit (34).
Accompanied by her four-year-old daughter Tanishka, Dixit explained, “I was looking for ways to help Tanishka practise her alphabet. I found some reusable books and short storybooks that I can read to her at bedtime.”
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