Copies of Jannayak Anna Hazare on display at Novelty Book Stall outlet at Patna Book Fair. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Around six months ago, Anna Hazare’s name used to create ripples in Patna. You would think that books on the anti-graft crusader would fly off the shelves — quite the contrary.

Visitors to the Patna Book Fair at Gandhi Maidan are steering clear of books on Anna. A different sight from a few months ago, when hundreds of residents took out processions in support of Anna’s Jan Lokpal Bill. The person lamenting his choice is Udheshwar Singh, the owner of Novelty Book Stall, who has stocked books on Anna’s struggle.

One of the books — Jannayak Anna Hazare — has hardly found any taker with only four copies being sold in the first three days of the fair.

“What would I get after reading the book? I am not interested in Anna Hazare. He may be a national figure after protests and dharnas in Delhi. But frankly speaking, I do not want to waste my money on this book,” said Ankit Kumar, a student of Patna Science College, who visited the fair on Sunday.

Ravi Prakash, an employee of a private company who went to the fair looking for favourite books, also expressed his unwillingness to buy Jannayak Anna Hazare.

“It would not be wise to buy a book on Anna. It is not even related to my profession. Knowing about the Lokpal Bill hardly matters to me. I am not really interested in reading his biography and about his achievements.”

Jannayak Anna Hazare, among other things, lists Anna’s past struggles, the role of the civil society and the importance of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Written by Pradeep Thakur and Pooja Rana, the book is even priced low — Rs 85 after a 10 per cent discount. However, that too is not enough to woo prospective buyers.

Mrityunjay Singh, a resident of Boring Road, said: “Why would I spend Rs 85 for this book? What is so special about it? It will not serve my purpose. I have come here to buy books that can interest me. It would be better if I buy works of Paulo Coelho or Jeffrey Archer. Their books would be more interesting than a boring topic like the Lokpal Bill and Anna Hazare.”

Udheshwar Singh, who had ordered as many as 100 copies of the book, can only count his losses as visitors move past the book as soon as they see the title.

Singh said: “Visitors are not even touching the book that is on display. We are repenting our decision to put this book on display. We should have rather put some other book, it is unnecessarily taking up space, which is not required.”

Two more books on the crusader are no better off. Bhrastachar ke Khilaf Jari Rahegi Anna ki Jung has sold two copies, while Loknayak Anna Hazare has found three buyers.

On the possible reasons for the books not attracting bookworms, Singh added: “Maybe people do not want to read about him or maybe the topic has been buried by the people of the civil society. Earlier, a lot of people gathered near Gandhi Maidan to advocate support for Anna. Now, the same people have turned their backs on the agitation.”

A new — Anna: 13 Days That Awakened India — was also released on Sunday. Wait is on to see the response.