Book exhibition delights bibliophiles in Kashmir

At a time when the internet seems the easy way out in the gathering of information and knowledge, the book exhibition organised by the Directorate of School Education in Srinagar appeared as a welcome step towards inculcating the passion of reading classics among people of all age groups.

The exhibition showcased a blend of modern with the ancient, and included a wide range of books on history, geography, culture, tradition, ancient and contemporary literature, science and technology, Islam, Sufism and heritage of the state.

Speaking to media persons, Deputy Director of school education department in Kashmir, Abdul Majeed Bhat, felt that technology could never be a substitute to books.

"Since times immemorial, books have held a significant place in our lives. Even though times have changed, and there is a technology revolution with the fast emergence of internet and other multimedia, books will continue to be relevant and they cannot be replaced. Human existence directly or indirectly relies on books," said Majeed.

Youngsters at the exhibition felt the need of more of such fairs in order to get a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the state which has intrigued people all over.

Another visitor, Tahir Ahmed, welcomed such initiatives saying that he Internet could never substitute a book.

"Though the internet provides us with the basic information we need, but the finer points can only be obtained from books. The readers who have flocked to this exhibition get a hand on books of diversified disciplines and a comprehensive knowledge about anything," said Ahmed.