It has 122 publishers with books on many subjects, NBT proposes first book promotion centre in city.
The week ahead promises the Amdavadi book lover exposure to the vast literature available in the country. The first National Book Fair was inaugurated on Tuesday at Sabarmati riverfront.
Amdavadis will now have thousands of books on a wide range of subjects to pick from. The first-ever national book fair in the city was inaugurated by chief minister Narendra Modi on Monday. On this occasion, National Book Trust (NBT) expressed interest in setting up first-of-its-kind book promotion centre in the city for promoting literary activities.
AM Sikandar, director of NBT, said that the trust is interested in setting up a book promotion centre in the state for encouraging the culture of reading and book-related activities. He also said that they want support from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in the form of land. "If the corporation provides land by June, Ahmedabad will be the first city to have a book promotion centre as we are also in talks with Goa for the same project," said Sikandar.
The book promotion centre will be a place for launching of books, discussions and debates on books and literary subjects. It will also be a venue for book fairs as well as providing guidance to emerging writers. Moreover, it will have a mobile library van to cater to the needs of rural areas. The book fair will be open from May 1 to May 7. A total of 122 publishers from various parts of the country have participated in the fair. Books in Gujarati, Hindi, English, Urdu and other languages are on display and available for sale. There are books covering various subjects from children's literature to scientific discoveries, motivational to religious and spiritual subjects, folklore and mythology to modern literary creations.
CM Modi stressed upon the need for transition of a Gujarati person from Laxmipujan to Saraswati Pujan. He said that the book fair is the result of a long process that started with Vanche Gujarat and has been implemented in phased manner. "The book fair will be organised every year as continuous efforts are needed for bringing about change in the society.
Sikandar also accepted that the publishers were quite reluctant to come to Gujarat as they were not sure about response. "Till now Gujarati literature has not been given much of the importance, but now we want to focus on it," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}