Silchar book fair gets underway

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, Dec 14: Poet, jourlist and president of Biswa Banga Sahitya-o-Sanskriti Sammelan, Cachar District Committee, Atin Das speaking at the iugural programme of Silchar Book Fair, 2016 at Bipin Chandra Paul Sabasthal here said, “A prophet is not worshipped in his own country. Paritosh Paul Choudhury was one such prophet who did not get any recognition for his contributions. The purpose of organizing a book fair in his memory is to bring alive his contributions towards Barak Valley and the language movement in particular.”

He further said that Silchar book fair dates back to 1987 and since then there was no looking back.

“Manik Lal Talukdar was the first organizer and since then book fair has been continuing its journey and completed its silver jubilee this year. The credit goes to Paritosh Paul Choudhury who was a true soldier of Bengali language movement. We had to fight hard for the protection of Bengali language. Back then, it was almost a war like situation. Choudhury had to face many obstacles, but he sailed against the waves and continued his struggle,” Das added.

 Drawing a line from history, Das said that he is thankful that Cachar district did not met with the same fate as Goalpara. “At the time of Independence, there were 750 educatiol institutions having Bengali as its medium. After more than 6 decades of Independence, the number has come down to 2,” he added.

He expressed his concern over the future of book fairs in Barak Valley. He however assured that it is just the beginning and a new life has been invigorated into the body of book fair.

 Former MP Kabindra Purkayastha, iugurator of the ceremony, said, “Young minds should be encouraged to read more and more books. It is almost impossible for a politician to be a voracious reader since we have to engage in many other activities. Education makes a man complete and knowledge is the only true wealth in this world.”

Bijoy Krish th, chairman, Jugansankha Group of Publications said that the world has become computerized and people no longer take interest in reading books. He further said that reading books increases knowledge manifold. Earlier, Purkayastha iugurated the ceremony by lighting the auspicious lamp, which was followed by felicitation of the guests and an iugural song.