Don’t become a slave of technology, return to books: CM Yogi
Lucknow| Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Gomti Book Festival organized at Gomti River Front Park. The festival is being organized with the joint effort of National Book Trust and Lucknow Development Authority, which will run from 9 to 17 November. On this occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to the children to read creative and informative books along with the curriculum.
The Chief Minister said that do not be limited to just course books, but read good books and learn good things from them. He requested all the children to buy one book each in the fair, so that they can develop the habit of reading books. Expressing concern over the growing impact of the digital age, the Chief Minister said that today’s youth are spending about 6 out of 24 hours on smartphones or other digital devices. If this time is used for any meaningful work, it can be beneficial for both the society and the youth. He said that we should use technology, not become its slave.
Drawing attention towards India’s ancient knowledge tradition, the Chief Minister said that the importance of India’s Shruti tradition is very deep. At holy places like Naimisharanya, sages transcribed knowledge, making it a pilgrimage site. He said that listening, meditating and putting it into practice has been a tradition in our country. Today we have to bring this tradition back to life.
Yogi Adityanath said that Uttar Pradesh is fortunate to have great poets like Maharishi Valmiki and Tulsidas. Referring to the epic ‘Ramcharit Manas’, he said that it is sung in every house. Giving the example of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, he said that the best work of knowledge was created even in the battlefield. We should be proud of our great tradition and cherish it. The Chief Minister appreciated this initiative of the National Book Trust and suggested that such book fairs should be organized in all the 18 mandals of Uttar Pradesh. He said that such fairs will benefit all sections of the society and interest in books will increase among the people.
The Chief Minister said that today we should focus on studying books by reducing the time spent on digital devices. He said that books expand our thinking and make us aware of the society. We have to inspire our new generation in this direction. Writers, society members and book lovers were present in this third edition of Gomti Book Festival. The Chief Minister himself visited the book stalls in the fair and visited the books and wished the organizers all the best for this innovative effort.
