New Delhi : The President of India, Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the unique ‘Festival of Libraries’ in New Delhi today. This Festival has been organized by the Ministry of Culture with the aim to promote the development and digitization of Libraries and cultivate the culture of reading. Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi were also present on the occasion.
In her keynote address, the President said that the development of libraries is correlated to the development of society and culture. It is also a measure of the progress of civilizations. She stated that history is full of such references in which the invaders considered it necessary to destroy the libraries. This shows that libraries have been considered a symbol of the collective consciousness and intellect of a country or society. She pointed out that such incidents do not happen in the modern era but there are incidents of disappearance of rare manuscripts and books. She said that efforts can be made to bring back rare books and manuscripts.
The President said that libraries act as a bridge between civilizations. In ancient and medieval periods, people of many countries carried books from India, translated those and gained knowledge. At the heart of such efforts is the thought that books and libraries are the common heritage of humanity.The President said that a small book has the potential to change the course of world history. She referred to Gandhiji’s autobiography, where he has mentioned about the great positive impact of John Ruskin’s book ‘Unto This Last’ on his life. She said that books contain in them the fragrance of the land and the vastness of the sky.
About Festival of Libraries 2023
The ‘Festival of Libraries 2023’ is organized by the Ministry of Culture. It’s a remarkable endeavor that emphasises the significance of libraries as pillars of knowledge and enlightenment. By promoting the culture of reading while also advancing library infrastructure, India takes a significant stride towards becoming a leader in the domain of knowledge and wisdom.