The 36th Vijayawada Book Festival began on Friday with grand arrangements at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Ground. Supreme Court Judge Justice Pamidighantham Srinarasimha inaugurated the event as the chief guest at the B.V. Pattabhiram Sahitya Vedika. Several prominent personalities attended the opening ceremony.
State Government Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand, Deputy Speaker Raghuramakrishna Raju, CPI leader Narayana, senior editor K. Ramachandramurthy, and former MP Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad participated in the event. Their presence added significance to the festival, which has become a major cultural attraction in the city.
Preserving Mother Tongue Is Everyone’s Duty: Justice Srinarasimha
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Srinarasimha stressed that preserving one’s mother tongue is a shared responsibility. He urged parents and teachers to encourage children to read books regularly. He said book festivals should become part of children’s lives from an early age.
Sharing his personal experience, Justice Srinarasimha recalled studying in a convent school where teachers discouraged writing in Telugu. However, his father insisted that he write letters in Telugu at home. As a result, he developed a deep love for the language and later read epics like the Ramayana and Bhagavatam.
Moreover, he described books as living companions that inspire, educate, and guide people. He explained that books evoke emotions, spark ideas, and influence judgments, especially while interpreting the Constitution. According to him, every book introduces a new perspective and strengthens intellectual growth.
Festival Details and Timings
Meanwhile, the organizers named the book fair premises after Vadlamudi Vimaladevi. They dedicated the main literary stage to renowned writer Dr. B.V. Pattabhiram. Additionally, they named the Pratibha Vedika after noted astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar.
The Vijayawada Book Festival will continue until the 12th of this month. It will remain open daily from 2 pm to 9 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the festival will start earlier at 1 pm. Organizers expect large crowds throughout the event.
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