With the theme, "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" the 41st Agartala Book Fair inaugurated by the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to make the fair into a grand by maintaining the state’s fame and tradition at Hapania international fairground considering all ground facilities, which will continue up to April 5th next.

Inaugurating the book fair, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said Book fair means extra emotion. Agartala Book fair is also a meeting ground of intellectuals, creative thinking people' and healthy culture. Dr Saha appreciated the huge enthusiasm of book lovers, writers and publishers every year. He congratulated all concerned people for the splendid organization of the 41st Agartala Book Fair.

Books are the best friend of every human being and a house without books is like a body without soul and I urge all the school and College going students to buy not only text books but also different other books on various topics then only this book fair will be a great success, said Dr Saha.

The Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha further said that books are being read to know about the thinking and consciousness of different writers and poets who are taking this culture forward. There was a time when the students used to read a lot of books but now students do not read much and it is due to the mobiles and other electronic stuff which is the reason for the same. He added that the habit of reading books is a good habit as the knowledge gained from it remains in the mind always.

He also gave an example of yesteryears where people used to collect books from Bir Chandra library and added that there are many countries where people read a lot of books while the same is there in many parts of the country and hence their knowledge is highly developed. The youngsters of the state are talented and they must make a habit of reading books.

He also said that common people were overwhelmed and it was clear from the kind of stunning environment which was on show on this day. The first book fair took place in 1981in the premises of Rabindra Bhawan after which it was shifted to Children's Park and then to Hapania International fair ground. The Chief Minister wants the book fair to be organised in different parts of the state and instructed the ICA department to do the needful.

The state government has arranged free bus service from various spots of Agartala city to the venue including the pickup points are Radhanagar Bus Stand, Chandrapur Motor stand and Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan. The service will start at 1.30 pm to 9.30 pm respectively to reach the destinations through Nagerjala.

The MP of Bangladesh Pran Gopal Datta, Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder, MLA Ram Prasad Pal, MLA Mina Rani Sarkar, ICA director Ratan Biswas and few others were present on this day. There will be Seminars and other cultural events which will be held in the 13-day Book Fair this time as well.

It may be recalled here that during the fair day, the meeting of the G-20 will also be held at Agartala and representatives of different countries representatives of 6-20 summit will visit the fair complex.