Ahmedabad, 4 May 2013

Following is the latest blog of Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. It is about Amdavad National Book Fair 2013 which was inaugurated by Shri Modi early this week.

Donating books to ignite the spark of knowledge in society

Dear Friends,

A few days ago I inaugurated the 2nd Ahmedabad National Book Fair. This wonderful initiative is a part of the Vanche Gujarat Mission. It is organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in association with National Book Trust and with support from Gujarat Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Prakashak Mandal with a determination to popularize books among the people of Gujarat.

The response to last year’s book fair was phenomenal! People cutting across all age groups converged at the venue to get their favourite titles in Gujarat, Hindi and English. Many people wrote to me congratulating the authorities for their wonderful efforts to organize a book fair such as this and sought more such fairs in the times to come.

This year’s book fair is on a larger scale. What I found special about the fair is a separate counter to donate books!Anyone who is visiting the fair can donate books at the counter. During my visit to the book fair, I had the privilege of donating a book on Sardar Patel.

The purpose of this endeavour is to create an atmosphere where books can reach those sections of society where they have either not reached at all or the reach has been slower than what it should be. This is a determination to share the joys of reading and the joys of education with the larger society around us. This effort goes beyond mere budgetary allocations or government programmes, it is about collectively doing something that will have a lasting impact on our society. It is about our values and culture.

I was very delighted to see kiosks for young children at the book fair. Time and again, I have always stressed on the need to inculcate the habit of reading among our youth. Technology and packaging can play a great role in this. We are slowly moving to an age where entire libraries will be available at the click of a mouse! I see a lot of youngsters reading e-books on their tablet computers, on platforms such as Kindle. This is a big opportunity for us and we must integrate technology in making books popular among our youth.

Along with technology, packaging can make an immense difference. Take the case of Panchtantra series. This series became very popular among youngsters because of integration of technology and effective packaging. Even Amar Chitra Kathas have repackaged themselves to strike a chord with youngsters, thus leading to a further rise in their popularity. Infact, in a time when video games draw youngsters more than books, we should think of creating such video games that draw youngsters to read and enjoy books.

There was another initiative that we tried in Gujarat to spread joys of reading. This initiative is the ‘Floating Books Programme,’ where a particular book is shared by a group of friends. Once a person finishes reading it, he or she passes it on to the others. This is both economical as well as increases participation.

Friends, I urge you all to take time off and visit the book fair. I specially urge my young friends to go there, to see the books to interact and encourage the authors and most importantly, to donate as many books as possible. Remember that you are not only donating a book but also giving a life to someone else, you are giving something that is an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati and something that will ignite a spark of curiosity and knowledge in the another mind.

Regards,
Narendra Modi

Related posts from archive:

Complete Schedule of events at Amdavad National Book Fair 2013
Inaugural function of Amdavad National Book Fair (Video/photos)
“Amdavad book fair 2013 will be bigger and grander” (Video)
“These seven days changed the identity of Amdavad” (Video)

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today opened the second edition of Amdavad National Book Fair in Ahmedabad.

By our correspondent, Ahmedabad, 29 April 2013

The second national book fair organized by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will be held during 1-7 May this year. The event has been organized jointly with National Book Trust(New Delhi), Gujarat Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Prakashak Mandal at Gujarat University Convention hall.

The book fair this year has been organized on the theme of late Shri Kanaiyalal Munshi and Shri Rajendra Shah in center.

There will be total 300 book stalls. The book fair will remain open from Monday to Friday during 12.00 noon to 10.00 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday during 10.00 am to 10.00 pm. There will be 20 food stalls at the venue.

There are total three auditorium that are part of the event. One has 2500 chairs and it is fully AC, another two 300-capacity mini AC auditoriums will host litearary and children activities.

Various events are to be organized on proof reading, copy editing, computer, language, copy right, book head, book designing, poetry workshop for children, creative stories workshop for children.

Padmashree award winner Manojdas will deliever address onf irst day. On second day famous poets will recite poetry. On third day,Manhar Udhas will sing best ghazals of Gujarati language. Fourth day will be for humour, fifth for young singers and seventh for folk artists. On last day, famous writers/artists will speak about their journey of life.

E-books, website of book fair, online stall booking and payment, online selection of store’s location, ATM, icecream outlef in central courtyard, sitting arrangements for children and old-age peopl are other attractions of the book fair.

An exhibition showcasing 100 years of Indian cinema, separate section for educating visitors on e-book and e-library, pustak parab – where people can donate books are part of the events.

Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi is going to open the book fair on 30th April at 5.00 pm at Gujarat University Convention Centre.

Ahmedabad, 24 March 2013

Presented above is veteran humorist and Gujarati author Shri Taarak Mehta’s speech in reaction to honor he received by the city of Ahmedabad today. City Mayor himself visited Shri Mehta’s house to bring him to the function. Shri Mehta’s seven minute speech was simple, but touched the hearts.

Ahmedabad, 19 March 2013

The city of Amdavad will give public honor to veteran author and humorist, 82-year-old Shri Taarak Mehta this Saturday in a function at city’s Town hall. The event has been organized under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Sanskar Choro initiative.

Veteran humorists Shri Vinod Bhatt and shri Ratilal Borisagar will speak at this function on Shri Taarak Mehta’s life and works.

The event will be graced by Former MP Shri Surendrabhai Patel (Kaka), Municipal Commissioner Shri Guruprasad Mohapatra among others.

By our correspondent, Surat, 20 February 2013

The city of Surat will host ‘Surat night half marathon run’ on 23rd of this month. The event will be held in categories of five, ten and twenty one kms.

City police commissioner has declared closure of traffic on Athwa gate to Magdalla tea point stretch from 6.00 pm on 23 February evening.

In another development, Surat Municipal Corporation has organized Swami Vivekanand National Book Fair, Horticulture and Herbal Fair and Shilpgram Fair during 22-28 February at Vanita Vishram ground in Athwa Lines area of city.

Ahmedabad, 5 February 2013

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) intends to organize the Annual book fair this year on a much bigger, much grander scale compare to last year.

According to Municipal Commissioner Shri Guruprasad Mohapatra, the second edition of Amdavad book fair will be held over an area of 50,000 sq meter at Sabarmati riverfront. The seven-day book fair will kick off on 1st of May 2013. The entire book fair complex will be centrally air conditioned.

While last year there were 175 book stalls, this year there will be 330 book stalls. Last year there were 20 food stalls, this year the figure will be 40. There will be two auditoriums with capacity of 1500 and 300 chairs. According to Mohapatra, important authors from India and abroad will visit the fair. According to details available to DeshGujarat, the Commissioner has planned a stall at the National book fair in Delhi to promote the Amdavad book fair.

Amreli, 25 January 2013

Amreli town will celebrate late poet Shri Ramesh Parekh’s birth anniversary on 27 January. The event has been organized by Gujarat Sahitya Akademy, Rupayatan and Mudra under the title of ‘Ful sami hu drashti fenku’. Shri Parekh’s wife Rasilaben will inaugurate the event.

The programme will be held in three parts. The first session ‘Gajaro 1′ will be addressed by Vallabh Vidyanagar based Gunvant Vyas. He will talk about Ramesh Parekh’s life and works. Rajkot based Manoj Joshi will present the songs of Shri Parekh in same session.

In the second session ‘Gajaro 2′ famous poets including Shri Harsh Brahmbhatt, Rajesh Vyas, Pravin Gadhvi, Manohar Trivedi, Harshad Trivedi, Urvish Vasavada and Manoj L Joshi will recite poems of Shri Parekh.

In the last part ‘Gajaro 3′, singer Uday Majmudar, Rekha Trivedi and others will present the songs written by Shri Parekh.

The event will be held at Mahajan party plot according to Academy’s Harsh Trivedi, Rupayatan’s Rasikbhai Shah and Mudra’s Harshad Chandarana.

Porbandar, 31 December 2012

Ranavav Sahitya Sanvardhan Samiti has launched a book ‘Porbandar ni pratibhao’ featuring 18 legendary persons from Porbandar including Mahatma Gandhi, Maharana Natvarsinhji, Sheth Shri Nanji Kalidas Mehta, Bhaishri Ramesh Oza, author Gulabdas Broker, Historian Narottam Palan, Devjibhai Modha, Ratilal Chhaya, Ramjibhai Padalia, Merubha Gadhvi, Pingalshi Gadhvi, Kanu Barot, Malde Rana Keshwala, Jagannath Ahivasi, Damodhar Bhatt, Arisinh Rana, Lakhabhai Baleja and Vijaygupt Maurya. The book has been written by Popatbhai Khunti and Sahdevsinh Jethwa.

Ahmedabad, 10 December 2012

Shri Ashwini Bhatt, a popular Gujarati author, loved by readers of all age for his super-hit novels passed away in America. He was 75. He was unwell for last four days and died due to stroke.

Othar, Katibandh, Fanslo, Nirja Bhargaw, Kamthan, Lajja Sanyal, Kasab, Ayno are some of his famous novels. Ashwinibhai is survived by his son Nil who is based in America.

Ashwinibhai visited Amdavad in last March. While going back to America, he suffered chest pain and therefore he was deplaned for medical supervision at Ahmedabad airport.

Famous poet late Shri Suresh Dalal had once said that Ashwini Bhatt and Harkisan Mehta were two eyes of Gujarati novel world.

Mumbai, 30 November 2012

Veteran Gujarati author Shri Chandulal Selarka passed away in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar on Thursday. He was 82. Shri Selarka suffered breathing trouble on Thursday, after which he was taken to the hospital where he passed away. Shri Selarka was originally from Porbandar. He was Charterd Accountant by profession. His columns ‘Kalrav’ and ‘Kolahal’ were popular in Mumbai Samachar. He gave popular novels like ‘Bhitar sat samandar’, ‘Sukhna pagla sat’, ‘Ekalpanth Pravasi,’ and ‘Ur Udasi Manad Pyasi’. He also had authored many short stories. ‘Pankharma vasant’ is a compilation of his essays. Shri Selarka had also authored a book on novel writing titled as ‘Navalkatha:Tatva ane Satva’. Shri Selarka authored more than 100 books.