SHILLONG: The first ever three-day book fair and literary interactions organized by the St. Anthony’s College Central Library, under the aegis of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell of the College, in collaboration with the Directorate of Information and Public Relations concluded on Saturday.
The fair was inaugurated on July 31 by the Director of the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, CP Gotmare at a function attended by 15 publishers and distributors from different parts of the country, students and faculty from different educational institutions and invitees from different walks of life.
Addressing the gathering, Gotmare lauded the efforts of the College in taking the initiative to organise the event for the benefit of the student community and of the public at large.
Assistant Professor, Department of English, St. Anthony’s College, Jacob L. Shylla said that for three days, the College campus was abuzz with book lovers, academicians, students and scholars who thronged the stalls all day hunting for their favourite authors, latest addition to their library and fresh literature for their studies.
The afternoon of the three days saw many high school and college students participating in the three literary activities – spelling bee contest, panel discussion and writers’ talk.
As many as 30 educational institutions also participated in the events held as part of the Fair. Notable publishers who participated in the fair were Taylor and Francis, Oxford University Press, Orient Black Swan and DVS Publishers.
The valedictory function of the event was held at the Diamond Jubilee Annexe of the College on Saturday. HM Shangpliang, Director, DIPR presided over the function as the chief guest.
Shangpliang recalled days when people would throng bookstalls and shops looking for books to read, whether for their studies or their entertainment. In the past, there was a great love for books and the reading habit was very much alive, he remarked while lamenting the dying of such a wonderful habit and the disappearance of bookshops from the city to make way for shops selling clothes and other items.
He urged the audience to revive the habit of reading before it dies out completely in the wake of modern craze for technology.
Shangpliang also gave away certificates and prizes to the winners and resource persons who participated in the three different literary events. Certificates were also given to the collaborating publishers and distributors and the faculty of the College who were part of the different organizing committees constituted to oversee the various aspects of the Fair.
