Russia and Ukraine stalls share book fair ground

Kolkata: At a time when Ukraine and Russia dominate global headlines for war and diplomatic strain, their presence at the Kolkata International Book Fair offers a different register.Separated by barely 20 feet, these two countries have chosen to foreground literature, art, and history at their stalls, using books and cultural artefacts to shape how they are seen beyond conflict. Driven by these two countries, the book fair has quietly emerged as a space where geopolitics is negotiated in print rather than pronouncements.
Ukraine's stall is one of the most striking, not for its size, but for how deliberately it uses literature and folk art to assert national identity amid an ongoing war. The emphasis is cultural rather than commercial. Visitors browse travel guides, photo essays, coffee-table books, food and craft titles, and illustrated children's books on Ukrainian bravery. Most titles are available for purchase at a flat 10% discount.One of the most discussed titles at the stall is a Bengali translation of works by Taras Shevchenko. Translated by Mridula Ghosh, who lived in Ukraine for over 35 years, the book introduces Bengali readers to Shevchenko not only as a poet, but also as a painter, writer, and political voice. The stall's décor features Petrykivka folk art, a Unesco-recognised Ukrainian tradition, created by artist Olga Zhyrovka, alongside pots of fresh genda phool. Floral artwork and hand-stitched QR codes link visitors to videos on Ukrainian history and cultural milestones.The Russian stall leans on cultural legacy and historical memory. The display, spread across fiction and non-fiction, history, poetry, and children's books, features many World War II-era titles, alongside works on science, ballet, painting, and memoirs reflecting Russian life and culture. The books in English, Hindi, Russian, and Bengali, are for display only and not for sale. Two curated exhibits anchor the space: a photography exhibition titled Victory over Fascism and a series of handcrafted portraits of literary figures such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Alexander Pushkin, created by members of the Indian Institute of Russian Language at Gorky Sadan, Kolkata.