History guides the new generation as a lighthouse. The way we view the present is shaped by our view of the past, and it influences solutions we offer to existing problems.

Yesterday, at the Ekushey book fair, visitors were seen going through books on world politics, political history of the Indian subcontinent and most importantly, the Liberation War of 1971 to understand and learn from the important events that shaped the world.

In the afternoon, the Suhrawardy Udyan was aglow with sky blue as around 400 students wearing school uniforms swarmed the stalls. The students of Police Line High School came from Comilla on a study tour.

“We came to buy books especially on our history and culture,” said Abul Kalam, a ninth grader. “We will buy some novels too,” he said smilingly.

Books on national and international politics were also in high demand at the fair.

“Kashmir: History and Politics” by Zakaria Polash from Sucheepatra drew readers' attention. “I wrote the book while staying at Srinagar in Kashmir for two years,” said Zakaria.

While, “Bangladesher Abbhudoy: Ekjon Prottokkhodorshir Bhashsho” by Prof Rehman Sobhan and “Muktijuddho Keno Anibarjo Chilo” by Dr Kamal Hossain were much sought after at Prothoma Prokashon.

Meanwhile, Tabenda Islam was flipping the pages of “Muktijuddher Bachai Galpo”, a collection of stories on the Liberation War by Humayun Ahmed from Anyaprokash. “I bought it for my son,” she said.

She also bought “Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control” from Daily Star Books.

“Riot: Perspectives on History, Politics and Culture” by Shashi Tharoor, “The Guerrilla”, a personal memorandum of 1971 by Shahzaman Mozumder and “Genocide They Wrote”, a book on the genocide perpetrated on Bangalis by the Pakistan occupation army during the Liberation War, written by Inam Ahmed and Shakhawat Liton, were also in high demand there.

“Bury My Heart at wounded Knee” by Dee Brown, a history of Native Americans in the American West in the late nineteenth century, translated by Daud Hossain as “Amare Kobor Dio Hatubhangar Banke” at Songha Prokashan, also generated much interest.

The curious readers were also buying translated versions of historical nonfiction books. “A World without Islam” by Graham E Fuller, “The Post American World” by Fareed Zakaria, and “Jerusalem, Itihas” by Simon Sebag Montefiore from Ankur Prokashani, among others, engrossed many minds.

Meanwhile, the third part of a graphic novel series on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be launched today on the Bangla Academy premises at 4:30pm, according to a CRI press release.

The graphic novel “Mujib-3” highlights the post-World War II period during which Bangabandhu emerged as a politician and organiser despite many obstacles.

On the 18th day of the book fair, 165 new books arrived.