Save Mother Tongue, Says SC Judge; Dy Speaker Promises Land for Book Fest in Amaravati
Inaugurating the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, Justice Narasimha said every good book carried its own life and personality. While many books may be short-lived, some attain timeless value and build lasting bonds with readers.
Vijayawada: Supreme Court Judge Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha on Friday called upon Telugu-speaking people to take collective responsibility to protect their mother tongue from the growing dominance of English in education and daily communication.
Inaugurating the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, Justice Narasimha said every good book carried its own life and personality. While many books may be short-lived, some attain timeless value and build lasting bonds with readers.
Recalling that his formal education was in English medium, he said he learnt to read and write Telugu at his father’s insistence. Passing on the habit of reading, he added, was primarily the responsibility of parents.
The Deccan Chronicle stall at the festival drew large crowds of students from schools and colleges, who interacted with staff to understand how news is gathered, edited and published. Teachers said the visit offered valuable exposure to credible journalism.
Presiding over the function, Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Raghurama Krishnam Raju said reading on electronic screens could never replace the joy of printed books. He expressed hope that book festivals would grow in popularity and assured efforts to examine the allotment of land for a book festival in the State capital. He added that the government was committed to reviving libraries across Andhra Pradesh.
Noted litterateur and Sahitya Akademi awardee Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad said publishers played a crucial role in bringing books to life, and that electronic media could never replace books.
CPI national leader K. Narayana urged the State government to allocate 10 acres in Amaravati for a permanent book festival venue and suggested holding the event twice a year.
Book Festival Association secretary K. Lakshmaiah delivered the welcome address, coordinator Vijayakumar conducted the proceedings, and president T. Manohar Naidu proposed the vote of thanks.