Tamil Nadu's book culture thrives: Inaugural of Salem Book Fair highlights dedication

In a tribute to Tamil Nadu's literary heritage, the Salem Book Fair commenced on Tuesday with fervor, highlighting the state's commitment to promoting literature and its creators. K.N. Nehru, Minister for Municipal Administration, delivering the inaugural speech, underscored the legacy of former Chief Minister Muthamizharaignar Karunanidhi and acknowledged the pivotal role of the present Chief Minister M.K Stalin, in establishing libraries and fostering a culture of reading across the state.
During the ceremony, Nehru highlighted the groundbreaking initiatives undertaken by past leader. He mentioned late chief minister Muthamizharignar Karunanidhi's initiation of the book exhibition with a personal donation of Rs 1 crore to start a corpus fund set the stage for generating revenue to support writers and authors. He also lauded Chief Minister M.K Stalin's efforts in establishing libraries in all panchayats during his tenure as the Local Administration Minister.
Chief Minister Stalin had revolutionized customary practices by replacing the tradition of presenting flower bouquets and shawls with gifting books. Over 1,00,000 books received by the Chief Minister were subsequently donated to prisons and public libraries, said K.N. Nehru, emphasizing the government's commitment to promoting a culture of reading for social harmony.
The District Collector, S. Karmegam, played a crucial role in the success of the Salem Book Fair, utilizing both government allocations and local funds totaling Rs. 30 lakhs. The event witnessed a record-breaking number of book sales, surpassing those recorded at the prestigious Chennai book exhibition, a testament to the burgeoning interest in literature within the region.
The officials present at the function include District Collector S. Karmegam, Salem MP S.R Parthiban, Dr. Alarmelmangai from the District Rural Development Agency, Mr. Murugan representing the Tamil Nadu Book Sellers and Publishers Association, and P.K Balasubramaniam, the District Library Officer. The inaugrual function underscored the significance of the event in fostering literary pursuits and cultural growth.