Ninth ‘Porunai Book Fair’ commenced in Tirunelveli; 126 stalls set-up

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu inaugurated the ninth ‘Porunai Book Fair’ at Nellai Trade Centre opposite Tirunelveli Corporation’s administrative office on S.N. High Road on Tuesday.

More than 126 publishers have put-up their stalls here to exhibit and sell their books till February 22 on topics ranging from agriculture to art and culture, history to literature, science and engineering to medicine, architecture to artificial intelligence etc. Moreover, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, Indian Space Research Organisation’s Propulsion Research Complex have also set-up their stalls while the self-help groups are selling their products at the venue.

Addressing the function, Mr. Appavu said the Tamil Nadu Government was organising the book fairs in every district as it was keen on promoting reading habit among the younger generation to create the society with rational thinking. Moreover, ‘Classical Language Literature Award’ equivalent to the Sahitya Akademi Award had been instituted by the State Government to recognise and honour outstanding writers.

“I appeal to the younger generation, especially the students, to read books at least 30 minutes a day and dedicate similar duration for reading an English newspaper of your choice to enrich your knowledge and develop language skills,” he said.

While competitions for the school children will be organised during the day, lectures by writers, ‘pattimantram’, music concerts and cultural events by students are being conducted in the evening.

“We are operating special buses from every part of the district to Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai and then to the venue so that people from even remote corner of the district can visit the book fair and return home smoothly,” said District Collector R. Sukumar.

Tirunelveli Corporation Commissioner Monika Rana, Vice-Chancellor, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University N. Chandrasekar, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, Palayamkottai MLA M. Abdul Wahab, writers Vannadasan and Soodamani and Deputy Mayor K.R. Raju were present.