SHILLONG: Governor Dr KK Paul has articulated concern over the ebbing reading culture in this modern age with children taking recourse to television and games over books.
Addressing the Junior Calm Creative Arts and Literature festival that began here on Thursday, Dr KK Paul said, “We need to seriously focus on this and re-generate the habit of reading.”
He asserted that book is the medium through which young children can acquire knowledge, adding that the depth of knowledge which one gets from reading books is much more than watching television.
Dr Paul, a book lover himself, however, rued that quality books are not available today and the ones available come at a heavy cost.
“We need to have good publication at cheaper price,” he said while addressing the inaugural gathering of the event.
He also stated that the habit of reading books keeps the mind active and has its own implicit pleasure.
Meghalaya Chief Secretary WMS Pariat while addressing the audience, which mostly comprised of students, rued that Shillong is gradually losing its tag of being the centre of education for the Northeastern region.
He said that there are many premier institutes in the city which have played a major role in developing manpower but the last two decades have seen a slight decline on that aspect.
“A lot more is needed to be done in the field of education,” Pariat said.
Meanwhile, various kinds of programmes including fancy dress competition, counselling of students, book fairs and stalls have been put up as part of the the two-day event which will conclude on Saturday.
‘Khmih Shillong Group’ which has made its way to the India’s Got Talent show also performed on the first day of the festival.
