Guwahati: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that, India's tryst with books and literature is almost as old as the 5000-year-old civilization itself.
While inaugurating the 21st North East Book Fair in Guwahati on Friday, M. Venkaiah Naidu said that – "The Harappan people knew how to write; unfortunately, their script was not been deciphered. Sanskrit dominated, first in its Vedic and later in its classical form in Indian literature. From the Vedas, which are the most ancient forms of literature in India to other great epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, to the scientific texts like Charakasamhita, and Aryabhatiya, India has a repository of an astounding wealth of the written word."
"India represents the largest democracy with a seamless picture of diversity in unity, perhaps unparalleled anywhere in the world. From ancient Indian literature to contemporary forms, India has been and still is home to hundreds of talented writers and gifted poets and this legacy of literary brilliance will be kept alive by generations of writers to come," Naidu said.
The Vice President exhorted on the need for starting a library movement and advocated that every village should have a library.
"Books open the minds of the readers. They enhance the analytical skills and stimulate the creativity of the readers," Naidu said.
"The library movement that flourished in different parts of the nation has played a critical role in the socio-cultural renaissance of India. In addition to spreading literacy and education, public libraries also played a part in safeguarding democracy, and promoting peace, culture and brotherhood. From Andhra Pradesh to Punjab to Maharashtra to Kerala, the library movement swept the length and breadth of the country, bringing the light of learning and knowledge to the darkest corners of the nation," the Vice President said.
He said that – "Books are informative, illuminative and inspiring and they are the best companions, counsellors and change agents. Books help widen the readers' horizons. The more one reads books, the more he or she understands the world and discovers life beyond what we already know. We need more good books to enrich our lives and we should be a nation that reads. It is with great concern that I note a decline in the interest in reading, especially among the young people of our country. With the advent of internet, children now prefer to search for information online rather than rely on books."
"Reading books, especially stories, is no longer the norm. Children prefer watching videos online. One major reason is the diminishing attention spans in a fast-paced world. Unfortunately, a lot of content available online is of cursory or superficial nature and does not promote deep reflections and introspection," the Vice President said.
He also emphasized on the importance of mother tongue and stated that speaking in mother tongue is one's right.
He also said that, mother tongue is one's sight and book reading is one's foresight.
On the occasion, the Vice President presented Vaishnav Sachi Chandra Borbaruah Award to Managing Director of Sadin-Pratidin Group, Jayanta Baruah.
Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi while speaking on the occasion lauded Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association for organising North East Book Fair since 1998.
He also said that the book fair is popularly known as 'People Book Fair' because of the spontaneous public support it received from all sections of the people.
"Book fairs have a great role to spread reading habits among all sections of people and among all age groups. Book fairs are also good platform for the regional publishing industry to promote their books. Publishing books by the local entrepreneurs also help in solving unemployment problems as several local youth get absorbed in these industries. Though the emergence of digital technology has taken its toll on the printed books, organizing book fairs and huge turn outs of book lovers have somewhat reversed this development," the Assam Governor said.
On the other hand, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that, book fairs are the important elements in inculcating reading habits in young minds in a very interesting way.
He said that, book fairs are the agents to popularise the books which delve on the culture, literature, heritage and ethnic tribes of the state. Assam's poignant literature and art forms are all interwoven into its social fabric and permeate all barriers of caste, creed and religion, as North East Book is a testimony to this.
Terming the Vice President as a scholar, Sonowal said that his presence in the book fair will definitely go a long way in igniting the young minds and help them to read books as their habits.
Assam Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, former MP Ramen Deka, former President of Asom Sahitya Sabha Dr. Dhruba Jyoti Bora, Director National Book Trust Neera Jain, MD Sadin-Pratidin Group Jayanta Baruah, President of the Federation of All India Book Sellers and Publishers Association S.C. Sethi, President of All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association Imran Ahmed and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)
