IMPHAL, December 15: The written works of eminent personsalities, philosophers and thinkers chronicled in books have shape the destiny of mankind, said MLA, RK Anand.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of the 10-day long 22nd Imphal Book Fair, 2013 at Hapta Kangjeibung (Palace Compound) organized by the State Central Library and the Department of Art and Culture today.
He continued that, the Library Act was passed some years back but till now in the state it’s similar to being stored in a cold storage.
Such kind of negligence defer development in the field of education, said the Congress MLA before seeking the government to take initiative implement the Act in the state at the earliest.
RK Anand further expressed that the fair which is being held is an asset supplying various books.
He added that books of local authors need to be exposed before other states.
Commissioner, Arts and Culture, RK Nimai expressed that eminent writers have written various books in all aspects of life; although the reading habit in the state is very less, which is a very unfortunate, he added.
The officer also elaborated on the need to develop the local languages.
In his keynote speech, Central Library librarian E Latakishware Singh said that as compared to the previous year book fair this years’ edition is more developed and on a larger scale, as it features 46 stalls of which 20 are from outside.
He further said that the aim of organizing the fair is to inculcate the reading habits, and to encourage more writers from the state.
During the function three books were released.
The books released today were Right to Education written by Aribam Balkrishna Sharma; Meetei Names written by Salam Bharat Bhushan and Yeningtha Amadi Nakentha written by Khwairakpam Sunita.