Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 23 2010:
State Central Library, Imphal today observed the World Book and Copyright Day 2010 with a symposium importance of book as a source of primary knowledge in the globe at its premise at Keishampat.
Noted writer Dr Moirangthem Priyobarta speaking on at the symposium said instead of giving benefits, loss dominated in the publication of books in the state.
Sub-standard books should be thrown out and only the standard books should be preserved for reading, he opined.
On the other hand Dr Ch Ibohal expressed concern over the reading habit of the people of state and said, there are no readers for novel and drama books published.
He also observed on the need of re-look into the publication of book considering the merit and demerit of the books to be published.
Librarian of the Manipur University, Dr Th Khomdon presided over the symposium.
UNESCO has declared April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day in 1995.The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day.
This became a part of the celebrations of the Saint George's Day (also 23 April) in Catalonia, where it has been traditional since the medieval era for men to give roses to their lovers and since 1925 for the woman to give a book in exchange.
Half the yearly sales of books in Catalonia are at this time with over 400,000 sold and exchanged for over 4 million roses.
In 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on this date because of the Catalonian festival and because the date is also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, the death of Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla, the birth of Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Manuel Mej�a Vallejo and Halld�r Laxness.
The primary aim of the World Book and Copyright Day is to kindle in children an interest for books and reading, besides expanding the scope to cover all levels of society regardless of age, and to make reading a daily habit.