Being at Boi Mela after 20 years makes me feel like a child in a chocolate factory : Antara Mitra

On a rainy winter evening, singer Antara Mitra of Gerua and Janam Janam fame rekindled her memories at the Book Fair after nearly two decades. From buying a bagful of books to meeting friends and having fish fry and tea, the singer who is also an avid reader had a blast at the boi mela. The CT camera captured some of the significant moments.

Childhood memories

Born in Maslandapur in Barasat, Antara has fond memories of visiting the book fair by local train with her parents. Last time she visited Boi Mela was when it was located at Maidan and she recalls the week-long planning that went into the trips. “I remember the fair being so dusty that my mother insisted on wearing sneakers. There used to be sprinklers to keep the dust in control. Going back home from Boi Mela in a crowded train with a bag full of books was a task in itself,” shares the Bheegi Si Bhaagi Si singer, for whom the evening was a walk down memory lane.

The bibliophile in Antara

The musician has a knack for Bengali books, especially romantic ones. She didn’t just buy classics by Satyajit Ray, Sanjib Chattopadhyay and Smaranjit Chakraborty, but also splurged on Shuktara compilations, and a collection of Abanindranath Tagore’s stories. “I bought so many books that I had to pay for extra luggage at the airport. I also had fish fries and tea, like I did with my father as a child. However it’s disheartening to see so many youngsters only indulging in social media activities instead of buying books at Boi Mela,” added Antara.

The venue and look of the book fair might have changed, but the essence is still the same. Being amid so many books and the smell of pages made me feel like a child in a chocolate factory

Not many know that I’ve always wanted to write fantasy stories for kids. In the next book fair, I want my books to be in the stalls and I’m actively working towards it
Pics: Samik Sen