Kochi: The second edition of Krithi International Book Fair and Knowledge Festival, organised by SPCS in cooperation with the state government and the department of co-operation, will be inaugurated by Governor P. Sadasivam at Marine Drive here on Friday. Around 125 publishers from the country and abroad apart from 22 small publishers will participate in the 10-day festival, said Mr Kadakampally Surendran, Cooperation and Tourism Minister.
Like the first edition, the organisation of Krithi will be supported by Samooh, a co-operative based in Kochi. Kerala Sahithya Akademi, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi, Kerala Folklore Academy, Kerala Media Academy, Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala Cartoon Academy, Kerala Literacy Mission, Kerala Library Council and Kerala Language Institute are also co-operating with the SPCS in the event, the minister added.
The exhibition premise will cover an area of 50,000 sq ft as against 42,500 sq ft last time. Krithi will give ideas to help the post-flood 'Rebuild Kerala' projects. The theme would be 'Kerala -Back to the Future.' The Krithi Knowledge Festival to be held at Marine Drive from February 9 to 17 will be attended by around 175 writers and subject-experts in nearly 70 sessions on various topics. In these, there will be two special focus areas, namely Kerala 2.0 and the partnering state Tamil Nadu, with more sessions happening around them. Under Kerala 2.0, the sessions are under four dimensions--culture, environment, economics and infrastructure.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will visit Krithi on February 11 and talk on New Keralam, renaissance and cooperation. The event will also see a slew of cultural programmes and food festival. According to Mr Kadkampally, the government has provided Rs 1 crore for its organisation and the remaining Rs 1 crore for its conduct will be mobilised by the organisers.
Some 50,000 schoolchildren will be given book coupons worth Rs 250 each.
