The mind behind Sharjah Book pageant hails from Kerala’s Payyannur

Express News Service

KANNUR: The days throughout the run as much as the Sharjah Book Festival will be hectic past phrases. But, P V Mohan Kumar, 65, External Affairs Executive of Sharjah Book Authority, below the Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah, which organises the pageant, takes all this in his stride. For him, there may be nothing extra pleasant than organising one of many greatest ebook festivals on the earth.

Mohan Kumar from Peringome close to Payyannur reached Sharjah in 1982 –the 12 months through which the Sharjah Book Festival was began. He set off for the emirate on the insistence of his uncle. “Those days, I used to work as an accountant for some companies part-time. I used to visit a tea shop run by a Vadakara native Madhavettan, who told me about a vacancy in the department of external affairs. After being cajoled by him, I put in an application and was called for an interview,” stated Mohan.

This was how he turned a authorities official within the division of tradition and tourism. Later, the tourism division was hived off and the data division was added as a replacement. By sheer coincidence, the division determined to stage Sharjah ebook pageant within the very 12 months through which Mohan joined. “During the early days, it was more or less an Islamic book fair. But, as the festival grew in stature, its nature and colour underwent a drastic transformation and now, it has become one of the most important international book fairs like the Frankfurt l and London Book Festivals,” stated Mohan.

What makes the Sharjah Book Festival all of the extra essential to Malayalis is the sturdy presence of publishers and writers from Kerala. “For the last couple of years, the festival has become an important event for publishers in Kerala,” stated Mohan. The pageant begins on November 2 and concludes on November 13. “Everyday, the activities start at 9 am and they conclude at 11 pm. Around 400 books will be released this year at the Writers’ Forum,” he stated. “I have received around 500 requests for this segment and this has resulted in more enemies, unnecessarily,” he stated.

“We cannot accept all the requests due to time constraints. Still, people feel they are being ignored. Such things happen when you conduct these sort of festivals,” Mohan stated.

This 12 months 2,213 publishers, together with 120 Indians, from internationally are scheduled to take part within the pageant. Apart from the ebook launches, round 2000 actions are scheduled to be held at completely different halls throughout the 12 days of the pageant. “The concept of book release of Malayalam authors was an idea of mine. Now, it has become the biggest attraction for Malayalis,” he stated.

Mohan Kumar with former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam throughout the pageant in 2011 

Covid unfold was thus far the largest problem that Mohan encountered as a key functionary engaged in organising the Sharjah Book Festival. “Though we had considered cancelling the occasion, Sharjah ruler HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi stepped in . He needed us to conduct the pageant and supplied the type of assist which we may always remember. Even when the pageant had a dismal starting, he had poured in 10 million dirhams to make sure that the collaborating publishers wouldn’t get affected. Apart from that, he waived the payment charged from publishers for collaborating within the pageant. It was an emotional occasion,’ stated Mohan.

The greatest contribution of Sharjah Festival is the expansion within the studying group in Sharjah, particularly college students. “Around 4 lakh students visit the festival every year. Most of them buy books. Of this, we reckon that at least 20% of students will become avid readers,” Mohan stated.

Celebrated writers attend the pageant as particular visitors yearly. The checklist of distinguished authors, who’ve graced the pageant with their presence, consists of Shashi Tharoor, APJ Abdul Kalam, Chetan Bhagat, M T Vasudevan Nair and many others. This 12 months, Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree, Deepak Chopra, Pico Iyer and former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Aktar will take part. From Kerala, writers C V Balakrishnan, T D Ramakrishnan, Sunil P Ilayidom, Murukan Kattakkada, actors Jayasurya, Balachandra Menon, Kottayam Nazeer and singer Usha Uthup will take part as particular visitors.

Mohan betrays not one of the tensions related to the gruelling activity of drawing up the pageant schedule. “Despite my professional commitments, I never compromise on my daily routine,” he stated. He wakes up at 4.30 am and begins the day with yoga, meditation, jogging and studying. He additionally finds a while for his every day sadhaka of Carnatic music. “That music part is a trick to keep myself young. I feel like a student when I learn music and I do it with great passion,” he stated.

Geetha Mohan is his spouse and the couple has a daughter, who’s a dentist by career

KANNUR: The days throughout the run as much as the Sharjah Book Festival will be hectic past phrases. But, P V Mohan Kumar, 65, External Affairs Executive of Sharjah Book Authority, below the Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah, which organises the pageant, takes all this in his stride. For him, there may be nothing extra pleasant than organising one of many greatest ebook festivals on the earth.

Mohan Kumar from Peringome close to Payyannur reached Sharjah in 1982 –the 12 months through which the Sharjah Book Festival was began. He set off for the emirate on the insistence of his uncle. “Those days, I used to work as an accountant for some companies part-time. I used to visit a tea shop run by a Vadakara native Madhavettan, who told me about a vacancy in the department of external affairs. After being cajoled by him, I put in an application and was called for an interview,” stated Mohan.

This was how he turned a authorities official within the division of tradition and tourism. Later, the tourism division was hived off and the data division was added as a replacement. By sheer coincidence, the division determined to stage Sharjah ebook pageant within the very 12 months through which Mohan joined. “During the early days, it was more or less an Islamic book fair. But, as the festival grew in stature, its nature and colour underwent a drastic transformation and now, it has become one of the most important international book fairs like the Frankfurt l and London Book Festivals,” stated Mohan.

What makes the Sharjah Book Festival all of the extra essential to Malayalis is the sturdy presence of publishers and writers from Kerala. “For the last couple of years, the festival has become an important event for publishers in Kerala,” stated Mohan. The pageant begins on November 2 and concludes on November 13. “Everyday, the activities start at 9 am and they conclude at 11 pm. Around 400 books will be released this year at the Writers’ Forum,” he stated. “I have received around 500 requests for this segment and this has resulted in more enemies, unnecessarily,” he stated.

“We cannot accept all the requests due to time constraints. Still, people feel they are being ignored. Such things happen when you conduct these sort of festivals,” Mohan stated.

This 12 months 2,213 publishers, together with 120 Indians, from internationally are scheduled to take part within the pageant. Apart from the ebook launches, round 2000 actions are scheduled to be held at completely different halls throughout the 12 days of the pageant. “The concept of book release of Malayalam authors was an idea of mine. Now, it has become the biggest attraction for Malayalis,” he stated.

Mohan Kumar with former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam throughout the pageant in 2011 

Covid unfold was thus far the largest problem that Mohan encountered as a key functionary engaged in organising the Sharjah Book Festival. “Though we had considered cancelling the occasion, Sharjah ruler HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi stepped in . He needed us to conduct the pageant and supplied the type of assist which we may always remember. Even when the pageant had a dismal starting, he had poured in 10 million dirhams to make sure that the collaborating publishers wouldn’t get affected. Apart from that, he waived the payment charged from publishers for collaborating within the pageant. It was an emotional occasion,’ stated Mohan.

The greatest contribution of Sharjah Festival is the expansion within the studying group in Sharjah, particularly college students. “Around 4 lakh students visit the festival every year. Most of them buy books. Of this, we reckon that at least 20% of students will become avid readers,” Mohan stated.

Celebrated writers attend the pageant as particular visitors yearly. The checklist of distinguished authors, who’ve graced the pageant with their presence, consists of Shashi Tharoor, APJ Abdul Kalam, Chetan Bhagat, M T Vasudevan Nair and many others. This 12 months, Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree, Deepak Chopra, Pico Iyer and former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Aktar will take part. From Kerala, writers C V Balakrishnan, T D Ramakrishnan, Sunil P Ilayidom, Murukan Kattakkada, actors Jayasurya, Balachandra Menon, Kottayam Nazeer and singer Usha Uthup will take part as particular visitors.

Mohan betrays not one of the tensions related to the gruelling activity of drawing up the pageant schedule. “Despite my professional commitments, I never compromise on my daily routine,” he stated. He wakes up at 4.30 am and begins the day with yoga, meditation, jogging and studying. He additionally finds a while for his every day sadhaka of Carnatic music. “That music part is a trick to keep myself young. I feel like a student when I learn music and I do it with great passion,” he stated.

Geetha Mohan is his spouse and the couple has a daughter, who’s a dentist by career