BSI hosts Bible Fair in Chennai

Chennai – Chennai recently played host to one of the biggest Bible fairs in India in which over 400 varieties of Bibles in all versions – personalized, digital, interactive children's CD, dramatized audio – were displayed and were available for sale.

According to Mr. W.R. Paulraj, Managing Director of the Bangalore–based Bible Society of India (BSI), the four–day event (December 1–4) saw the sale of Bibles and CDs and other articles worth at least Rs. 20 lakhs.

Apart from Bibles that were available in various shapes, versions and sizes, the exhibition also exhibited reference editions, commentaries, dictionaries, titles of famous authors, audio and video CDs, audio tapes and books.

“There was discounts on everything from 10 to 70 percent for every purchase, and the bible prices ranged between Rs 50 and Rs 3,500,” Mr. Paulraj said.

At present the BSI has a stock of Bibles worth about Rs. 3 crore.

Mr. D.S. Ebi Samuel, Secretary of the BSI's Tamil Nadu Auxiliary BSI, said they used to produce Rs. 15 lakh worth Bibles every year in addition to importing them from different countries.

Both the King James version (KJV) and New International versions (NIV) were available in the digital Bible variety in the ongoing exhibition, he said.

The exhibition was jointly organized by the BSI and Book Room.