Impossible is not a word uttered in Kolkata, whether by the city’s drivers squeezing their vehicles into improbable gaps in the traffic-choked streets, or by chefs transforming raw ingredients into a wholesome feast using the most basic equipment at the edge of the pavement.

When the news broke that the Calcutta High Court had cancelled the 33rd Kolkata Book Fair the day before its official opening because of predicted traffic chaos and air pollution the seemingly impossible needed to be turned into the art of the possible.

Scotland had been designated as the Guest of Honour country at the world’s largest book fair and writers and musicians had traveled to India to take part.

Now months of meticulous planning and organisation were threatened. The book fair organisers held an emergency meeting and decided the show must go on.

The events, initially billed as 'Scotland at the Book Fair' were changed to 'Scotland in Kolkata' season.

With new venues quickly being found and schedules re-arranged it was not long before one event after another started to pass off successfully.

Poet Robin Robertson and biographer Maggie Fergusson read from their works at a university bookstore to an appreciative audience and the Indian leg of the Young Publishing Entrepreneur award was announced at a city hotel with much fanfare.

Dr Henrietta Lidchi, Keeper of World Cultures, National Museums Scotland and Professor Arun Chatterjee, President of the International Council of Museums, India led a debate on the role of museums in contemporary society. Roy Cross, Director British Council Scotland said: ‘It felt as if Kolkata was organising its own underground book festival.’

At a glittering ceremony Kolkata’s bid to UNESCO to be recognised as a City of Literature was launched by three eminent Bangla writers, Bani Basu, Nabaneeta Dev Sen and Nabarun Bhattacharya who had participated in last year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. Books donated by Scottish publishers were presented to universities in Kolkata

Later in the week Eddi Reader gave a concert that swept a discerning audience off their feet. It was a magnificent example of cross-cultural collaboration, exploring Kolkata–Scotland connections through the words of Robert Burns and Robindranath Tagore with Bengali musicians Moushumi Bhowmik and Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta.

The audience was captivated when Eddi sang the Bangla version of Auld Lang Syne, the words of which she had learnt from Moushumi that morning during their first meeting and rehearsal session.

The concert was followed by a reception for Indian alumni of Scottish universities, some of whom had maintained contact with their universities for over 50 years. The evening swiftly took on the atmosphere of a ceilidh as Eddi and musicians Boo Hewerdine and Alan Kelly played an impromptu encore.

Guests required little encouragement to join in the singing and dancing. Of her first visit to India, Eddi commented: 'the whole experience affected me profoundly. I look forward to further collaboration with these fantastic musicians.'

Plans are now underway to maintain and develop links between Scotland and West Bengal through reciprocal visits in the areas of literature, music, museums, heritage and crafts, whilst in 2009 Scotland is set to return to the Kolkata Book Fair as the theme country.

If you’d like more information on the Kolkata Book Fair 2009 telephone +44 (0) 131 524 5745 or e-mail frances.boyson@britishcouncil.org.