Pune Book Festival Highlights Knowledge, Culture, and Creativity: CM Fadnavis Shares Vision for Maharashtra

Shivajinagar, 14th December 2024: The Pune Book Festival, organized by the National Book Trust (NBT), was inaugurated today by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the grounds of Fergusson College.

Emphasizing the enduring significance of books in the digital age, Fadnavis declared, “As long as there is creativity in society, the reading culture will never die. To preserve values and foster creativity, it is essential to sustain this culture of reading.”

He further lauded the festival, describing it as an exceptional initiative and pledged, “I will come again, every year.”

The inaugural ceremony witnessed the presence of notable dignitaries, including MLA Chandrakant Patil, MP Dr. Medha Kulkarni, National Book Trust President Milind Marathe, Director Colonel Yuvraj Malik, Festival Coordinator Rajesh Pande, Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University Dr. Suresh Gosavi, Deccan Education Society Chairman Pramod Rawat, senior writer Dr. Aruna Dhere, and several others.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of a Guinness World Record certificate to Parampujya Jain Acharya Vijayratna Surishwar Maharaj for exhibiting the highest number of books authored by a single individual. The certificate was handed over by Chief Minister Fadnavis.

During his address, Fadnavis remarked, “Pune is the perfect city for a book festival. This festival reflects Punekars’ passion for knowledge and books. The initiative ‘Peace… Punekars are reading’ could be extended across Maharashtra, with similar festivals in other major cities. This intellectual feast should reach every corner of the state.”

Drawing attention to the historical significance of books, Fadnavis cited the example of Nalanda University, which once hosted the world’s largest library, tragically burned for three months during an invasion. “Our culture teaches us to embrace knowledge from all directions. While artificial intelligence can gather ideas, it cannot create; human intelligence is indispensable for creation,” he added.

He also noted how technology has revolutionized access to literature, enabling the translation of books into any language for global readers.

On a lighter note, Fadnavis encouraged attendees to explore the accompanying food festival, jokingly urging, “Make time for that too,” eliciting laughter from the audience.

Festival Coordinator Rajesh Pande highlighted the festival’s growth, stating, “This year’s event is three times larger than last year. Besides the book fair, there will be various programs, including a film festival and a literature festival for children.”