Patna Book Fair 1991
PATNA BOOK FAIR 1991 : 1-15 DECEMBER
REMEMBRANCE
✍️In our democratic set up where a lot of stressed is being laid on education and even the education policy has been re-shared by the far-sightedness of the present government to enable it to meet the challenges of the future. It is imperative that book fairs are given the importance which not only help general reading habits but ultimately promote socio-economic reforms. It is good to see that book fairs in India, of late, are becoming quite popular and are being held regularly in different parts of the country. But the manner in which the fourth book fair in 1991 is indeed extraordinary. But how appropriate it would have been if the first book fair in Independent India had been held in Bihar in 1950 as a tribute to the land of Nalanda in which the world 🌎 got the first university.
The book fair in Bihar is a tremendous success in as far as its overwhelming response can be foreseen. The last book fair of Patna had already generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the participants and the book lovers even at its initial stage. Its success surely brings to laurels to the state and perhaps even becomes historic event for our nation.
Patna Book Fair 1991 held from 1st to 15th December was inaugurated by Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, the then governor of Bihar on 1st December while, the minister of education Dr Ram Chandra Purve presided over the function. Dr Kumar Bimal, Vice President, Indira Gandhi Open University was the Guest if Honour and Chairman of Delhi Public Library Dr Shankar Dayal Singh, MP (Rajyasabha) as well as many other intellectuals were also Special Invitees on the occasion of inaugural ceremony.
While inaugurating the event on 1st December, 1991 Mohd. Shafi Qureshi said that just by holding such book fairs, Bihar could wash away many of its sins. He also said that with reference to the new restriction on import of books 📚India cannot exist in isolation. It cannot build walls around itself in the relief that there is wisdom and knowledge only in our country. He expresses his strong displeasure over the education system in the state and stressed the need to bring about necessary reforms, otherwise, the fate of Bihar would be doomed and reading of textbooks would not suffice as students required knowledge from outbooks. He mentioned that examinations were not enough to judge the knowledge of students as questions often were leaked out and the evaluation system had been reduced to a farce. Lauding our efforts Mohd Qureshi said floods, faminist et cetera may come and go but if the level of Bihar’s education sank to an unredeemable level, the loss couldn’t be compensated and the whole nation would suffer since Bihari brains were now working out on the top levels all over the world. A collection of poems, ‘Palaash-Van’ by Dr Padmasha Jha (MLC), the glamour girl of Bihar’s assembly was also released by Sri Qureshi.
Dr Kumar Bimal said that it was Nalanda University of ancient India that the only faculty of medicine had once existed. He explained whereas in the west 75% of the total books published in the world 🌎 appeared, Europe had 535 books per million persons. He added that Asia published 75 books per million while India came in at the end with 27 books per million. Investmentwise, India was 115th with a very small part of its budget set aside for education. The special speaker 🔊 at the function, Dr Shankar Dayal Singh (MP) said that Bihar had always had its strata of intellectuals and still had it. He pointed out that of five books sold anywhere in India, one was bought by a Bihari, of the total number of journals published one-fifth was sold in Bihar. Presiding over the function Dr Ramchandra Purve said that it was here in Bihar that the sage ‘Pingal’ had his ashram where Ashoka, the great learned Chhand Shastra and here it was that the greatest educational institutions and personalities of ancient academia flourished.
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Ian McCluney visited the event on Saturday, the 7th December 1991. A jovial diplomat, the dignitary caused a flutter and took a keen interest in the books displayed. He seemed fascinated by a book, ‘The Chronicle of the World’ and exclaimed aloud that this was one book he would like to have with him all the time. His personal secretary was Mr Lloyed who works on the library side, had accompanied him. Mr Ian McCluney had lingered over the ‘Limca Book of Records’. He also took a grand look at a book on astrology. In reply to a query, he grinned, “I am a fish, Zodiac sign Pisces”, and said that he liked the question very much. A packet of books was presented to him as a token of appreciation. Mr Ian McCluney had also visited The Hindustan Times and The Times of India stalls. He put on his glasses and peered closely at the Feedback, Flashback, Eloquent Brush- a collection of vintage Laxman cartoons at The Times of India stall. He also seemed very impressed by Forefront. He asked about Mr R.K. Laxman, “Is he employed by the TOI to do cartoons for them ?”
Mr R.K. Laxman, renowned cartoonist, visited the fairground accompanied by Mr Deelip Padgaonkar, the Editor of The Times of India, on Tuesday 10th December and attended a ‘Meet Laxman’ programme in which school children interacted with the celebrated cartoonist. Once called the ‘symbol of democracy’ by Mrs Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India, Padmabhushan and Ramon Magsasay award-winner, Mr Laxman had said that he was a political cartoonist primarily because the country was obsessed with politics, so much so, that people discussed politics even in their leisure. Asked by a student, “what he could do to become R.K. Laxman”, he said with a twinkle in his eyes that a cartoonist was born and that there was no school 🏫 to train cartoonists. A cartoonist, first and foremost, must have a sense of humour of the silver-haired cartoonist.
He has been drawing since the age of three, and admitted that he was once punished for drawing a tiger🐅club resembled him. That was the first time that he realised that human beungs resembled animals in their behaviour, mannerism and so on. The impression was reinforced time and again. He also drew instant cartoon, starting with a bald pate which had those present guessing till he came down to the immensely potruding lips — Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. He pointed out that during the emergency his cartoons were required to be sent from Mumbai to Delhi for screening and in the process several of them were disallowed.
He met Mrs Indira Gandhi, was admitted that such restrictions were unfair since he was a symbol of democracy, and that he will be allowed all freedom. In a brief speech to the gathering at Patna Book Fair 1991, he hoped that there would be several Cartoonist from the state one day as Bihar was a very fertile place for cartoonists. The moment Mr Laxman visited the book fair he was immediately mobbed by a larged crowd. He had to be rescued in fact and taken away.
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