Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Concern over declining reading habit

— PHOTO: V. RAJU

School children spread the message about the importance of books in human life, participating in the "Walk for Books" organised as part of the ongoing Vijayawada Book Festival, at Gandhinagar on Tuesday.

VIJAYAWADA: The organisers of the ongoing Vijayawada Book Festival had a bonus of sorts when Director-General of Police K. Aravinda Rao turned up to flag off the ‘walk for books', an essential part of the book festival every year, from Press Club, Gandhinagar on Tuesday. The walk went up to Swaraj Maidan and concluded with a meeting.

The chief guest, who was scheduled to flag off the rally was Commissioner of Police P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, but the presence of Mr. Aravinda Rao, an official with an academic bent of mind, in the city for delivering a memorial lecture came in handy for the organisers.

Mr. Aravinda Rao along with Mr. Anjaneyulu and office-bearers of the Vijayawada Book Festival Society walked up to a distance to demonstrate his love for books.

Mr. Aravinda Rao went down the memory lane and said he took part in the walk along with Gyanpeeth awardee C. Narayana Reddy a few years ago.

He expressed concern over the declining reading habits of the people and students in particular.

“Educationists and parents should encourage reading habit. The scenario in Vijayawada is not as bad as in Hyderabad. The reading habits here are more,” he felt.

Speaking at the meeting organised at the conclusion of the walk, Choudary Babu of Gautam Educational Institutions expressed the view that good leaders were good readers.

“Unless a person reads books, he cannot become a leader. One may become a politician by virtue. But, people would listen to him only if has some knowledge that a book gives,” he said.

Mr. Choudary Babu said making money had become a prime objective of the people. But, one should realise that the essence of life was not just earning. Reading a book, listening to music and talking with a friend were also important in day-to-day life.

AP Grandhalaya Parishad Chairman Turlapaty Kutumba Rao, who presided over the meeting, and VBFS president R. Ramaswamy also spoke.

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