Punjab Governor Banwarilal Prohit
Inaugurates Nine Day Literary Festival and Book Fair at Khalsa College
“Let Us Make Books Integral Part of Our
Life: Governor
NBT Organized Fair Attracts Thousands of
Book Lovers on First Day
Amritsar
“Books
are the treasure-trove of knowledge and we must make them an integral part of
our life”, said Governor Punjab Banwarilal Purohit who inaugurated the
nine-day-long Literary Festival and Book Fair-2022 at the historic Khalsa
College campus here today. He said books open new vistas in our lives and to
make it more meaningful and successful in a real sense we need to befriend with
books.
Governor Prohit who reached the
heritage campus to a warm welcome by the College management and staff as he
took the tour to the grand book exhibition panorama wherein more than 100
publishers have installed 102 stalls of the books of varied nature. The
exhibition is being organized at the College in collaboration with National
Book Trust (NBT), the wing of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
While addressing the packed house
of thousands of audience including students, literary enthusiasts, academicians
and book lovers, Prohit said that books strengthen the mental ability of the
readers and as such everybody should read more and more books. “The joy
of reading can not be replaced by the computer, mobile or other electronic
gadgets' ', said he.
He added that Khalsa College has
carried forward its legacy of rich heritage by organizing this grand event of literature
and books. Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) President Satyajit Singh
Majithia, honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, Director, NBT,
Yuvraj Malik and Principal Dr. Mehal earlier welcomed him while appreciating
the NBT’s move to organize the national level event here.
Chhina in his address said that
since its inception Khalsa College remained the central place of literacy
activities and will always do its best to connect the students and new
generations to their rich heritage. Apart from the exhibition of lakhs of
books, cultural programs, flower shows, workshops and literary activities
including seminars and discussions would be major attractions, he said. He
thanked NBT for inculcating the spirit of reading books amongst youngsters.
Yograj Malik said that the motive
to organize the event was to highlight the significance of books in our lives
and connect the youth with literature. He said books of all kinds and various
languages will be available in the festivals that will culminate on March 13.
He expected a large number of visitors during the festivals as books will be
available at heavy discounts.
Principal Dr. Mehal Singh said
that Punjab Art Council Chandigarh, Punjabi Academy, Delhi and Punjabi
University, Patiala and National Book Trust (MBT), Ministry of Education,
Government of India has always supported the efforts of organizing literary
festivals. He emphasized that since its establishment Khalsa College has been
committed to the development and promotion of Punjab language. This literary
festival and book fair is one step forward towards our commitment, said Dr.Atam
Randhawa, Head of Department of Punjabi Studies, Khalsa College.