By TC News Desk
Agartala, March 24: Chief Minister Prof Dr Manik Saha on Friday said that there is no substitute for books and reading them is very necessary for the expansion of thinking.
While inaugurating the 13-day long 41st Agartala Book Fair with the theme ‘Vasudhaiba Kutumbakam’ at International Fair Ground premises here in Hapania on Friday afternoon, the chief minister said, “I am overwhelmed by the crowd of excited people present at the book fair today. A strange atmosphere has been created in the presence of books and the younger generation. The book fair, which started in 1981, is being held today at the Hanpania International Fair premises in Ananya Kolebar.”
He also said that the reading rate among students has decreased in the digital age. If you don’t read a book, you feel a lack of well-thought-out consciousness in your body. He urged the students to buy other books besides textbooks at the book fair.
Reminiscing about his youth, the Chief Minister said that he used to queue up in front of Birchandra State Central Library to get new books. He praised the organizing Information and Cultural Affairs department for increasing the number of stalls on the occasion of the book fair. He expressed hope that the tradition of the book fair will continue in the future as well as its growth.
Speaking at the event, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that even though the demand for books has decreased in the digital era, its importance is still undiminished. The exchange of knowledge and ideas between writers, publishers, readers and readers is important in book fairs.
On the occasion of Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury’s interest, Chief Minister Dr Saha advised the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs to organize book fairs at the district and sub-divisional levels in the coming days.
The tourism minister also said that representatives of Bangladesh are also present at every book fair in this state because the people of Bengal on both sides are complementary to each other.
In the opening ceremony of the book fair, Chief Minister along with other guests unveiled the book fair number of Bangla and Kokborok book fair theme song, Samarnika, Gomati.
