MAM
International Kolkata Book Fair seeks online dominance on FB & its URL
KOLKATA: The International Kolkata Book Fair, true to this metro’s population density and avid interest in the written word, is one of the largest book fairs in terms of footfall. Interestingly, its theme is Great Britain and is all set for a hectic 12-day event, which commences from 28 January in ‘The City of Joy’. IKBF aims to aggressively embark upon its online campaign by launching its official website ‘www.kolkatabookfair.net’ on 20 January 2015 as well as making its presence felt on Facebook.
The organisers aim to feed its tech-savvy public with specially developed mobile apps for the Book Fair, with the precise aim to target booklovers to have full access to information concerning all the participating stalls.
The idea of creating apps is all very nice and it’s good to see that finally the IKBF is going tech-savvy. “But a digital presence is not valid unless something exceptional is done. It is not just about running a page on Facebook or a Twitter handle. These tools should be used more effectively to create awareness, provide constant updates, inform the public about the popular stalls and preferred publishers, send frequent messages to update them on the footfall, and most importantly be interactive,” opines Abhishek Sengupta, an advertising expert…“As an avid app user what I would really like to see is the facility to book a ticket through the app and also avail special discounts,” says Sengupta.
Right from aggressively advertising online, the authorities actually went to Delhi for the very first time in 39 years for the promos, to literally woo more Delhiites to pay a visit to Kolkata for the literary event. According to statistics, ‘the city of joy’ received a footfall of bookworms of over 1.8 million last year and sold books worth Rs 200 million the last time.
The British Council has joined hands with the Book Fair, as its co-promoter and co-exhibitor. In keeping with its ‘Great Britain’ theme, books and online resources from the United Kingdom, will be displayed there. Nearly 103 book publishers and distributors ranging from various subjects, including diverse societies will make their way there to feast their eyes on these great works of art on display.
The Book Fair will be meticulously divided into five distinct halls, carefully marking the anniversaries of well-known British and Bengali authors and playwrights, including renowned William Shakespeare’s 450th birth anniversary year, 100th birth anniversaries of Dylan Thomas, a known Welsh poet; Suniti Kumar Chattopadhyay, a Bengali linguist and educationist and Sombhu Mitra, an equally legendary local actor, director and playwright.
To commemorate this prestigious event, the fifth hall will be an exact replica of the British National History Museum, and will be named after erstwhile renowned comic actor and film-maker Charlie Chaplin, in honour of his 125th birth anniversary this year.
Kolkata is sure to capitalise on this great literary event and will definitely be enriched literally and have great winnings to boot. The Indo-British liaison nostalgically takes us back to the East India Company formerly based in Calcutta in the 19th century and hopefully, once again it will revitalise this strong, symbiotic connection between the two countries for many years to come.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
