Sriakshaya is excited for the Coimbatore Book Festival 2026. Hours before the doors open for the general public, she is arranging books at Thirunangai Press’ stall where she works. “I have a new book coming out for the book fair,” says Sriakshaya, who is from the transgender community. Titled Kovilpatti to Chennai Vazhithadankal, it talks about her many journeys in search of herself ever since she came out as a transwoman. “It took me six months to write it,” she says. It occupies pride of place at stall no. 68 at the ongoing Coimbatore Book Festival organised by CODISSA, that is in its tenth edition.
Sriakshaya with her book at Thirunangai Press’ stall at the Coimbatore Book Festival
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According to M Rajesh, the chairman of the Coimbatore Book Festival, the event is only growing in scale every year. “Last year we had over 320 stalls, whereas this year, there are over 400, with 200 participants,” he says. Rajesh says that the fair is part of CODISSIA’s CSR activities and is done without a business motive. “We want to encourage people to read,” he says, adding that they get several hardcore book lovers. “Last year, we had a reader buy books for ₹35,000,” he says. “A lot of them ask for trolleys to take the large stacks of books they buy.”
