Lucknow: ‘Definitely embrace the digital world, but do not stop reading books. The one who has stopped reading has stopped growing. Books play an important role in shaping the mind, which creates wisdom in you.’
This was said by comedian Rajpal Yadav. He was speaking as the chief guest on the occasion of the release of Raw vs ISI on the ninth day of the twenty-first National Book Fair being held at Balrampur Garden. The ten-day fair bid farewell till next year with the closing ceremony.
The comedian, while referring to the years spent in his hometown Shahjahanpur as well as in Lucknow at the Bharatendu Natya Academy in the early years of the last decade of the last century, gave an inspiring message to the next generation to play, read books and move forward by reading. While praising the fair, it was told about the released book Raw vs ISI that writer Sarvjit Singh is also making a web series on it.
In the ceremony conducted under the guidance of UP Tripathi, in the presence of Daulat Vaish, Aditya, Deepika working on environment, publisher Vivek and Dinesh, writer Sarvjit told that this story has originated from an Indian and a Pakistani character.
In the series of literary events of Mela Manch, Adarsh Prakash Singh’s analytical book ‘Jawaali ke Tede Mede Raste’ was released. In the program conducted under the guidance of Prem Kant Tiwari, Santosh Tiwari said that the biggest threat to journalism is from advertisers and the passion for journalism is still intact in Adarsh.
Information Commissioner Rajendra Singh said that Adarsh’s first published book was for journalism students and this book is on journalistic life. Here, Lokbharati’s organization minister Brajendra Pal Singh, Alok Singh, Manoj Chandel, Information Commissioner Rajendra Singh, Santosh Tiwari and the writer expressed their views.
After the release of the poetry collection ‘Taarikh Humein Saath Liye Jaati Hai’ by senior administrative officer and poet Hariom, by Rajkamal Publications, a discussion was held on the book. Here, writer Hariom read many poems along with the title composition. Under the guidance of Manoj Pandey, poets Naresh Saxena, Ramji Rai, Pranay Krishna, Basant Tripathi, Bajrang Bihari Tiwari and Premshankar Singh expressed their views on the book.
There were many new books here like Gateway to the Sea on the historical ports of Mumbai, Aashaon Ki Udaan on the speeches of President Draupadi Murmu, the first part of Dalit Devo Bhava by Kunal Kishore. Among the new books, there were many books for children like Chetak and Pratap by Manorama Jafa.
There were many books related to Islam and Urdu at the stalls of Majlis Tahqiqat and Nashriate Islam, National Urdu Language Development Council, Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy, Ahmadiya Community and Goodword in the fair.
In the evening, Dr. Kiran Dayal Snehi’s book Adhya was released on the stage in collaboration with Literary Warriors Group and Kalyani Foundation. In the presence of Sangeet Natak Academy President Jayant Khot and under the chairmanship of Surya Kumar Pandey, Dr. Renu Mishra, Neelam Saxena, Dr. Amita Dubey, Sanjeev Jaiswal Sanjay, Dr. Manish Shukla, actor Chandra Bhushan Singh, UB Tiwari, Did Lakhnavi, Archana Jain, Dr. Pushpa Singh, Preeti Pandey, Ajay Kumar Verma etc. recited poems in the function.
On the cultural stage, a gathering of Sher-o-Shayari was organized under the guidance of Jyoti Kiran Ratan and Aamir Faizal, in which a kavi sammelan and mushayra were organized under the aegis of Rabta Foundation and Tahzeeb-e-Awadh.