Agartala: Jan 02: The 43rd Agartala Book Fair was officially inaugurated on Thursday at the Hapaniya International Mela Ground and will continue until January 14. The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the opening. He was joined by various dignitaries, including Deputy Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly Ramprasad Pal, Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Deepak Majumdar, Minister Santana Chakma, MLA Mina Rani Sarkar, and others.
In his address at the inauguration, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha highlighted that the dates of the book fair were strategically chosen to coincide with the academic calendar, keeping students in mind. He expressed concern over the decreasing number of book purchases and encouraged people to gift books on special occasions, which would not only benefit booksellers but also writers. Dr. Saha emphasized the importance of books in expanding human consciousness, calling the book fair a celebration of the mind and intellect. He also stressed that books are an irreplaceable source of knowledge.
The Chief Minister urged parents to motivate the younger generation to cultivate a reading habit, stressing that reading books is essential for personal growth and development. Minister Santana Chakma and other speakers also addressed the gathering, underlining the value of books and the role of the book fair in promoting literary culture.
Following the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Saha cut the ribbon to open several book stalls and took a tour of the various exhibition areas. The event saw a significant turnout of book lovers and general visitors alike, marking the fair as a major cultural event in the region. The 43rd Agartala Book Fair continues to be a hub for book enthusiasts and is expected to attract a large audience through its concluding date, January 14.
