Devendra Fadnavis Stresses Importance of Reading Culture and Marathi Language

The ongoing Pune Book Festival 2024, held at Fergusson College, featured a dynamic array of literary and cultural activities on 15th December. As part of the ongoing celebrations, on Sunday, the Children’s Corner hosted exciting competitions like Art Attack! and Slogan Writing, catering to various age groups. The Author’s Corner presented engaging panel discussions on topics such as creating fantasy worlds in children’s books and the future of Gen Z bestsellers. The Cultural Stage showcased vibrant performances like Adabi Sangam and Global Gharana, while the Children’s Film Festival screened a diverse selection of films, including Desa Timun (The Cucumber Village) and The Ascent of Mt. Meru. The festival continues to offer a rich mix of literature, art, and cinema for attendees.

Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the festival featured over 600 book stalls and offered a platform for various literary events and performances.

Inaugerated on Saturday

The festival was inaugurated by Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, on Saturday, who spoke on the importance of promoting a reading culture. Fadnavis emphasized that book festivals are essential for preserving and fostering creative thought and values in society. “It is crucial to maintain the reading culture, and such festivals should not be limited to Pune alone but organized throughout Maharashtra. The government will always support this initiative,” he assured.

Fadnavis also expressed his satisfaction with the overwhelming response from Pune’s residents to last year’s book festival and noted that he was happy to see their continued participation this year. “An important event is being held in the state’s cultural capital to promote the reading culture. Punekars have shown great enthusiasm for this festival, and I am glad that they will continue to attend this year as well,” he said.

The Chief Minister highlighted India’s deep historical connection with books and knowledge. “Our relationship with books is ancient and eternal. Indian civilization, one of the oldest in the world, continues to thrive even as other civilizations have faded. Our civilization has taught us that knowledge from all directions should be embraced, which is why our bond with books remains unbreakable,” Fadnavis stated.

He also assured that the legacy of books and knowledge would endure in the digital age. “Technology has made it easier to read books in multiple languages, thereby opening the doors of knowledge. We must all work together to preserve and promote our reading culture,” Fadnavis urged.

Additionally, Fadnavis emphasized the significance of the Marathi language, which has now been recognized as a classical language. “This recognition brings with it an increased responsibility to preserve and promote the Marathi language, and it is up to all of us to carry this legacy forward,” he added.