Vijayawada: Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan highlighted the transformative power of books during the inauguration of the 35th Vijayawada Book Festival at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium (IGMS) on Thursday. He encouraged the youth to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, calling it a pathway to enlightenment.
The event, organized by the Vijayawada Book Fair Society (VBFS), commenced with great enthusiasm and will end on Jan 12.
Addressing the gathering, Pawan Kalyan shared how books have shaped his life. “Books gave me the courage to stand up in life. My parents instilled in me the habit of reading. I value books more than material wealth. If I give a book, it feels like sharing my riches. Though I stopped formal education after Intermediate, my learning never stopped because of books,” he said. Drawing inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore’s self-education, he emphasized the importance of knowledge beyond classrooms.
During the event, the deputy CM unveiled biography of former Prime Minister late P V Narasimha Rao, authored by Krishna Rao.
The book fair boasts 270 stalls featuring a diverse collection of literary works, with daily timings from 2 pm to 9 pm.
The event saw the participation of prominent figures, including Sahitya Akademi secretary K Srinivasa Rao, ‘Eenadu’ editor M Nageswara Rao, MP Kalishetti Appalanayudu, and MLA Mandali Buddhaprasad and others on the first day.
