Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that a good book becomes a worthy guide, always illuminating the path of our life and helping us move forward.Inaugurating the fourth Gomti Book Festival at Lucknow University, Yogi said, “For the next nine days, visitors will experience a grand confluence of knowledge and literature. Children and youth should spend less time on smartphones and dedicate at least one hour daily to reading creative and knowledge-enhancing books.”The CM gifted books, including ‘Exam Warriors’, penned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to schoolgirls and children and asked them to read it carefully as it would help them in better preparation for examinations. Anganwadi workers also received books.Citing examples of Indian seers, the CM said, “In our tradition, sages like Yajnavalkya showed society the path of knowledge.” Narrating the episode of Rishi Yajnavalkya and his wives Katyayani and Maitreyi, he said that the pursuit of knowledge should be life’s supreme goal.The CM praised the National Book Trust for upholding the tradition of organising the Gomti Book Festival and said that this year’s event hosts more than 250 stalls offering books in various languages, ranging from children’s works to those of renowned authors.The CM highlighted India’s rich knowledge tradition, citing the contribution of Takshashila University, Panini, Sushruta, and the Brahmavettas. He explained that Takshashila was named after Taksh, the son of Bharat (Lord Ram’s brother). “Reading and progress have always been a part of India’s heritage, aligning with the PM’s message of ‘When citizens read, the country leads’,” he said.Citing works of Maharishi Valmiki and Tulsidas, the CM said that original creations were not only immortal but also made their creators immortal. He urged students to ensure that, along with their academic studies, they also read good books.Emphasising the message of ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Samaj’, the CM said, “If women are healthy, society and the nation will be strong.” He appealed to children to visit the book festival and buy at least one book.Higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay, advisor to the CM Awanish Awasthi, National Book Trust chairman Prof Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Lucknow University officiating vice-chancellor Prof Manuka Khanna, author, filmmaker, and historian Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, and NBT director Yuvraj Malik were present on the occasion.
