Kolkata: The 38th edition of Kolkata International Book Fair will help enrichment of Bengali literature via Wikipedia, the world’s largest multilingual free internet encyclopedia.
According to Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of the annual event, Wikipedia is to launch a campaign all throughout the 12-day festival to sign-up volunteers who can contribute to enrich its Bengali link (Banglapedia) database, besides the mother site.
“The site approached us asking for help since the number of articles published in Bengali is very less. The primary idea of the fair is to promote reading and literature amongst people in any format. We are happy to help,” said Tridib Chatterjee, secretary of the Guild. “The Wikipedia stall will occupy a prime spot in the fair,” he added.
Rare opportunity
Students of Bengali literature are excited about this opportunity. “It is a very rare opportunity especially for students and new writers who will be able to exhibit there works all over the globe. More so in an era where Bengali literature which flourished globally is now diminishing as English has take centre stage even in Bengal,” said Paromita Sengupta, a research student on linguistics.
“In today’s world internet is a very strong weapon to reach out to the world. We must ensure we use to wisely for maximum benefits to individuals and for the development of language,” said professor of Bengali literature in Calcutta University.
