HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Nov 28: The Assam Publication Board Book Fair held at Boarding Field, Sivasagar, concluded on Monday, bringing an end to nine days of literary festivities that drew enthusiastic participation from book lovers and sellers alike. Organised jointly by the Assam Publication Board (APB) and the All Assam Book Publishers and Book Sellers Association (AABPSA), the fair witnessed book sales worth Rs 40 lakh.
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Gracing the closing ceremony, renowned Bodo writer and former president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Tarun Boro, emphasised the significance of book fairs in the intellectual journey of a community. He lauded the APB and AABPSA for their commendable efforts in accelerating the pace of this journey in Assam. Boro stressed that no nation can overlook the intellectual development fostered through reading, and cautioned the digitally savvy new generation against overlooking the importance of books as the cornerstone of intellectual growth.
In the group cultural competition held during the fair, Doon Public School emerged as the winner, followed by Fuleswari Girls’ HS School in second place and Delhi Public School in third place.
Noted scientist and writer Dr Dinesh Goswami highlighted the transformative power of reading, stating that books have the ability to stir the reader’s soul and enrich their understanding of the world. He emphasised the role of reading in cultivating discipline and controlling wayward emotions and feelings.
Dr Diganta Viswa Sharma, a convener of the Sahitya Academy and a public speaker, addressed the audience, cautioning against the pitfalls of postmodernism, which he characterised as a Western construct aimed at dismantling age-old Sanatan culture and values. He urged the audience to exercise discernment in accepting or rejecting external influences, emphasising the importance of upholding Vedic principles and thoughts in the face of cultural infiltration through web series, TV serials, and Bollywood films.
