VALUABLE GIFT: Members of Vijayawada Book Festival Society presenting books to dignitaries attending the book festival inaugurated at Swaraj maidan on Monday. — Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

VIJAYAWADA: Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University V. Balamohandas has said that books have survived the onslaught of information technology.

"We live in a digitized world of electronic libraries and compact discs. But books continue to be the best source of knowledge," he said, addressing a meeting organised to mark the inauguration of the 18th edition of Vijayawada book festival at Swaraj Maidan on Monday.

Dr. Balamohandas said that there was a need to promote the habit of book reading in a big way to create a knowledge pool. Citing disturbing outcome of a national survey, he said it was a matter of serious concern that an Indian, on an average, read only 32 pages in a year as against his counterparts in United States and the UK who read 2,000 pages. "It is time we did some soul-searching to identify the causes of the decline in reading habit. A knowledgeable person is an asset to society," he said.

He said more number of libraries should be set up to provide access to a larger section of society. Book-lovers in the city should be thankful to the publishers and booksellers who came from across the country to organise a feast for them, he said and complimented members of the Vijayawada Book Festival Society for making the event a grand success year after year.

Origin of book

Speaking about the origin of book, he said there was no specific information available on evolution of paper except for a source, which indicated that Arabs developed paper from a material derived from a tree bark. Use of paper first surfaced in the department of law and taxation, he said, adding that the discovery of the paper paved way for spread of knowledge, which until then, was confined to a minuscule section.

Dr. Balamohandas said books made ideal gifts and they should replace bouquets, shawls and other items presented on any occasion.

Municipal Commissioner Natarajan Gulzar, who presided over the function, underscored the power of the written word and said that books should be treasured for posterity. He urged people to make a New Year resolution that they would present books as gifts to their friends on any occasion.

Mayor Mallika Begum and others were present.

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