Industries Minister Bikram Singh while inaugurating book fair here today said that books are the best friend of human beings. He said that books provides knowledge to all and guides us. He said that first text of world's Rigveda was composed in our country and India was called a world Guru on the basis of knowledge, yoga and spirituality. Even today numerous handwritten texts are preserved in various museums, libraries and private collections of scholars, he added.Shri Bikram Singh while inspecting the stalls of various publications at the book fair said that there are many books available in different languages and readers can enhance their knowledge by reading them. He urged young generation to take more interest in reading books so that they could excel in future.
The book fair Ograniser and Director of Okard India Shri Rakesh Gupta said that this was fourth book fair organised in Shimla. He said that during the fair the authors would also be honoured by the organisers. He said that this year Smt. Meenakashi Kanwar would be awarded for her special contribution in the field of writing and social service.Secretary, Language Art and Culture Dr. Purnima Chauhan said that folk literature, folk art, Pahari language, Seminar, Hindi Story and Poetry session would be ogranised during the book fair by Himachal Language Academy.Organiser of book fair Shri Sachin Chaudhary said that the exhibition of Himachali writers books was being organised by Aabhi publication.Joint Director Language Art and Culture Shri Rakesh Korla, Secretary Language Academy Dr. Karam Singh, Writers Shri S.R. Harnot, Dr. Om Parkash Sharma, Dr. Inder Singh Thakur, Smt. Bharti Kuthiyala, Shri Mast Ram Sharma, Dr. Pramod Sharma and Shri Trilok Suryavanshi were present amongst other on the occasion.