Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: N.N. Vohra, Governor, today inaugurated the Book Fair at Kashmir Haat, which will remain open for the next 9 days.
This Book Fair has been jointly organized by the National Book Trust (NBT); National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL); Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages; and Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India.
The Governor urged the organisers that such events should be made an annual feature. He suggested that similar book fairs need to be organized in other areas of the State besides Jammu, Srinagar and Leh.
To make book reading popular and cost effective among youth, the Governor suggested that the State could consider supporting these events so that the organizers are enabled to offer significant discounts in the prices of the books bought by the students and members of the society at large.
Emphasising the importance of good books in life, the Governor said that a valuable book, once bought, enlightens several generations in the family. He said that wisdom, which comes from knowledge, lays the basis for advancement of civilization and culture of a nation.
The Governor urged the organizers and the State Government authorities to give due publicity to the fair so that the largest possible number of school, college and university students, from all over the Valley, are able to visit and benefit from the Fair.
Dr. Ashok Thakur, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, was the Guest of Honour on the occasion. He said that this fair has been organized with the objective of promoting book reading and writing among youth.
He assured that this Book Fair will be an annual feature from this year onwards and the demand for organizing similar fairs in far-off areas will also be taken care of. He said that his Ministry will also promote publishing and printing books related to vocational training in the State.
The Governor visited various book stalls put up by the publishers from across India, took keen interest in the books displayed and purchase a number of books.
Other dignitaries who spoke on the occasion included Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar; Tariq Ganie, Director Handicrafts, Kashmir; Prof. Khawaja Mohd. Ekramudin, Director, NCPUL; S.C. Sethi, President, Federation of Publishers’ & Booksellers’ Associations in India; and Prof. Shafi Shauq, Kashmiri writer.
Dr. M.A. Sikandar, Director, NBT, India gave the Welcome Address while Haroon Rashid, Officiating Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages presented a formal Vote of Thanks.
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