Agartala, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, stated on Friday that there are no shortcuts to achieving success in life, emphasizing that daily reading is crucial for knowledge acquisition and reaching one’s aspirations.

While inaugurating the 44th Agartala Book Fair, he remarked, “The pen is indeed mightier than the sword. Each day, we create a new page in our lives. There is no shortcut; we need to engage in reading every single day, as this is the path to accomplishing everything we desire.”

Saha urged students to explore literature beyond their textbooks, highlighting that books enhance vocabulary, boost writing abilities, and expand one’s thinking and awareness.

“Our minds serve as powerful libraries. It is essential to motivate children to delve into books beyond their academic materials to broaden their thoughts and foster creativity. The more we read, the better it is for our growth. There is no subject that cannot be explored through writing,” explained Saha, who also oversees the Information and Cultural Affairs (ICA) portfolio.

He underscored the significance of books, stating that they act as a bridge between the physical and mental realms, guiding individuals towards enlightenment and understanding.

“Books guide individuals from darkness to light. Continuous writing practice is crucial, as it can eventually evolve into a book,” he added.

The Chief Minister noted that the Agartala Book Fair enjoys recognition both nationally and internationally. He acknowledged that, despite the absence of visitors from Bangladesh this year due to current circumstances, book sales are anticipated to exceed last year's records.

He also mentioned that the scheduling of the fair was adjusted to accommodate students' exam periods, aiming for a higher turnout.

“The tradition of giving books at events has diminished over time. We must revitalize it innovatively. A book never deceives its reader. Everyone should allocate specific time for reading and cultivate it into a habit,” Saha stated.

“As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song, ‘Vande Mataram,’ we will continue this observance for a year, and the theme for this year’s book fair is ‘Vandemataram,’” Saha concluded.

Present at the event were Tripura Assembly Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Pal, MLAs Mina Rani Sarkar and Dipak Majumder (who is also the Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation), ICA Department Secretary Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty, ICA Director Bimbisar Bhattacharya, former Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University and Padma Shri awardee Prof. Arunoday Saha, among others.