With the smartphone having taken over the lives of most city dwellers, the National Book Trust will organise the Shillong Book Fair from September 27 to October 3, looking to get us to fall back in love with the printed word.
The fair will take place at the State Central Library premises here and will be held in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture and Education Department.
The Shillong Book Fair will be inaugurated by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma in the presence of Arts and Culture Minister Paul Lyngdoh.
Addressing a press conference today, Yuvraj Malik, Director of the National Book Trust, said that the Shillong Book Fair is a celebration of literature, with a diverse range of content made available in one place.
Daily activities like workshops for children, literary sessions, book discussions, author talks and cultural evenings will ensure the fair provides an inclusive platform for exchange of ideas and nurturing a culture of book reading.
Commissioner & Secretary in the Education Department, Pravin Bakshi, said that the Shillong Book Fair will have something for book lovers of all age groups, and, at the same time, is very youth and child centric.
Bakshi expressed hope that there will be a lot of participation from schools, colleges, etc.
He said that the state government has partnered with the National Book Trust as reading is slowly losing out.
“I’m not saying it is dead but it is slowly losing out as we are glued to our digital screens and this needs to be revived,” Bakshi said.
The fair will showcase a diverse collection of books by some of the best publishers of the country, including the works of local authors and regional literature spanning various genres.
Entry is free for all with a 10 per cent discount on the purchase of books as well.
Book lovers will have the opportunity to explore books that mirror the vibrant cultural fabric of Meghalaya and the North East.
In addition to literary treasures, Shillong Book Fair will also host cultural performances, creating an ambiance of vibrancy and cultural richness.
