33rd Guwahati Book fair, which is being held at the Assam Engineering Institute field at Chandmari was inaugurated on Wednesday . The book fair will last for over 12 days and is being held after a gap of two years. The entry into the book fair would be free for all visitors. A total of 117 book stalls have been set up.
Beside Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Hrishikesh Goswami, his Media advisor Hrishikesh Goswami inaugurated the book fair.
Inaugurating the ceremony, Goswami said, “We were all confined in our houses during the COVID-19 situation. The book fair opened the door of knowledge to us. The book fair seems to be an oasis in the middle of the desert.
Books are oasis of the desert as they nurture the intellectual and
creative faculties of the human beings. Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami said this while inaugurating the 33rd Guwahati Book Fair alongwith former Governor of Tripura and noted intellectual Tathagata Roy, renowned litterateur Yeshe Dorjee Thongshi and other dignitaries at Assam Engineering Institute playground, Chandmari in Guwahati on Wednesday. On the occasion, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser also presented lifetime achievement award for the year 2019 instituted by Publication Board, Assam to noted scholar Dr. Thaneswar Sarma. The award carries a citation, angabastra, books and a cheque of Rs. 2lakh. CM’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami and other dignitaries also released 12 books at the inaugural programme.
Speaking on the occasion, CM’s Media Adviser Goswami said that books enrich the human intelligence and urged to popularise reading habits among children. He also stressed the importance of popularising books among youths. Goswami also appreciated the Publication Board, Assam for bringing out 40 books during the pandemic period.
Attending the programme as guest of honour, former Governor of Tripura and noted intellectual Tathagata Roy recollected his association with Assam since childhood. TermingAssamese as a sweet language he expressed hope that the bonhomie between Assamese and Bengali people would continue in future also. Roy further observed that the National Education Policy 2020 would immensely help in highlighting the regional languages and
their literature.
Renowned litterateur of Arunachal Pradesh and Sahitya Academy Awardee Yeshe Dorjee Thongshi while addressing the occasion as special guest thanked the Publication Board, Assam for the book fair as it provided an opportunity for the book lovers to come together. He said that though COVID-19 pandemic brought lots of challenges, however at the same time there was a rapid increase of the number of readers worldwide which was a positive development. Thongshi said that he was fortunate to have released the collection of books written by another recognised name of Assamese literature Lumber Dai, who was also from his native State. He appreciated the publication board for this initiative and viewed that
this step would immortalise Lumber Dai in the literary annals of the State.
While Secretary of Publication Board, Assam Pramod Kalita explained objective of the meeting, life time achievement awardee Dr. Thaneswar Sarma also spoke on the occasion.
The inaugural programme was also attended by vice chairman of Publication Board Assam and noted writer Suman Chaliha, Secretary of Education Department Dipak Majumder among others.