By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 27: The much-anticipated Shillong Book Fair 2023 was inaugurated by Arts and Culture Minister, Paul Lyngdoh and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma.
Speaking at the inaugural event, Lyngdoh said, “Books are an integral part of our culture. They weave magic and words stay with us eternally.”
“A lot of things will diminish in values and important over time. But not books as it is like the best of wine will get better with time,” he added.
The Education Minister said that ideas through books will remain forever and hence we should have more books on Indian culture to preserve our traditions and culture for our future generation.
The Art and Culture Minister also revealed that the government has decided to outsource the U Soso Tham auditorium and other such facilities to professional hands to ensure that events like the book fair are held at frequent intervals.
The minister hoped to see that someday book fairs would attract crowds as big as a rock concert in Shillong.
Lyngdoh said that he would like to invite the National Book Trust to engage further with the state government with ideas like developing a mobile library and so on.
Daily activities like workshops for children, literary sessions, book discussions, author talks and cultural evenings will ensure the fair provides an inclusive platform for exchange of ideas and nurturing a culture of book reading.
Mankhraw Tron, a student who visited the book fair, said that this is a great opportunity for all the book lovers since they will manage to have access to books which are otherwise unavailable.
He added that as a book lover he does not like to read the book online since the thrill of an actual book is unmatchable.
He also stressed that the government should emphasize holding more book fairs instead of concerts as it will help shape young minds better.
Another student, Saphi Manba Syiem said that this book fair gave her the opportunity to go through different genres even though she is a lover of thriller and romantic books.
She said that there are educational books which are very helpful since she is a NEET aspirant.
Syiem also echoed the minister’s views stating that book fairs should be a frequent event in the city.
The book fair is being held after a gap of seven years.
The last edition of the Shillong Book Fair organized by the National Book Trust (NBT), Ministry of Education, and Government of India in collaboration with the Education department and Art and Culture department was held in 2016.
Others present during the inaugural function of the book fair include Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma, NBT director Yuvraj Malik, Commissioner and Secretary, Arts and Culture department, FR Kharkongor, and other dignitaries.