IMPHAL, December 24: The 23rd Imphal Book Fair jointly organised by the State Central Library, Department of Art & Culture and Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata concluded today.
The book fair was held at the Thangmeiband Athletic Union (THAU) ground. During the ten days book fair, 50 book agencies from the state as well as outside the state took part.
Speaking as the chief guest at the closing function, Manipur University Vice-chancellor Dr H Nanadakumar Sharma said the book fair was being held to inculcate the habit of reading books as well as to promote the libraries.
Reading books not only give us a lot of benefits but also enlighten our minds, he added while expressing concern at the dwindling number of people who visit libraries.
Observing that the small number of visitors might have resulted from the advent of e-books, he said even though a reading habit can be developed by procuring e-books which may be more attractive to people; however, there will always be a difference between the experience of reading e-books and printed books.
The experience of reading hard copies of a book will always have a greater impact on the readers, he opined.
Books provide a link between the civilization of the past, present and future and it would have been extremely difficult to identify a civilization if there were no books, he said.
Lauding the organisers for organising the book fair with a great effort for the benefit of people, the Vice-chancellor further appealed the people to inculcate a reading habit.
Consultant to the State government, RK Nimai Singh said the reading habit of the people of Manipur has been revived but the number of people visiting libraries is quite small and it`™s disgraceful. The government also give less emphasis on the improvement of libraries but there are signs of an encouraging development when the Cabinet has taken a resolution for the improvement of libraries.
The decision of the Cabinet for establishing a Cultural University is commendable but establishing it will not be an easy task as there is only one Cultural University in the world which is in Moscow, he opined.
He further stated that many books are published in the state but the print quality is poor. Nowadays, buyers want books which have a good print quality and a fine finish, he added.
The book fair is providing opportunities to people and also students by availing various kinds of book which is not easily available in our market, RK Nimai said.
Retired Art & Culture commissioner P Bharat Singh said there is a need to make fully functional all the libraries of Manipur and making them fully functional require an adequate number of employees for their maintenance.
The President of India had given his assent for the implementation of the Library Act in the State in 1993 but it still remained unimplemented which is due to the insufficient funds for the libraries, he added.
Bharat Singh later appealed organisers to organise the Imphal Book Fair at a bigger scale in the coming years for the benefit of the people.
A member of the Manipur Sahitiya Parisad, Rajen Khumukcham, who is participating in the Imphal Book Fair said the number of visitors is very less when compare with the number of visitors in a Mela or the Sangai Festival which is embarrassing because people are avoiding to visit such fairs which will them lots of benefits.