By: Yeneily García
The 24th International Book Fair, the most important cultural event in the country, kicked off from Thursday February 12 in its 24th edition that will run until February 22 in its main venue at La Cabaña Fortress and in other venues in the Cuban capital city.
This is already a reality, let’s celebrate it like the space to exchange culture and ideas it is, said Zuleica Romay, president of the Cuban Book Institute during the official opening ceremony that took place at that military premise. There were present other personalities like Miguel Diaz-Canel, first Vice President of the Council of States and Ministers, Esteban Lazo, president of the National Assembly of People’s Party, and Ravindra Singh, Secretary of State for Culture in India.
Singh, who leads the Indian delegation, the Guest Honorary Country to the event, assured that it is an honor to be the first Asian country to receive such a high tribute and, specially, for an event like the Cuban Book Fair.
We brought a sample of the literature made in our country, from Mahatma Gandhi’s wisdom to the word of young figures in contemporary literature, he précised when confirming the arrival to Cuba of Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the InterGovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, who will take part in a panel on environmental problems where it will be also presented a book by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
The opening ceremony helped to show the wide sample of Indian culture in this Book Fair with the performance of Rajastan Folk Dance Group, which will be in Friday at 8.30pm at Teatro Miramar.
Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, and Gerardo Hernandez, three of the Cuban Five Heroes were present in the opening and were warmly greeted by Zuleica Romay, who welcomed them to “this literary party that has missed them so much.”
There were also tributes to Olga Portuondo, National History, Research and Social Sciences Award, and Leonardo Acosta, National Literature and Music Award, who the Book Fair is dedicated to in its 2015 edition to honor the life and work of these distinguished Cuban intellectuals.
About two thousand titles will reach every stand in the country available for national and international readers throughout the Book Fair that will run up to April in the whole country.
Havana will keep its venues until February 22 in La Cabaña Fortress and other spaces like Centro de Estudios Martianos, Jose Marti Cultural Society, Dulce Maria Loynaz Cultural Center, Havana University and Pabellon Cuba.
Fuente: Cubarte
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