Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, inaugurated the State book fair Akhyara, here on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Patnaik said book fair is the fair of knowledge. “I hope Akhyara will be able to introduce you with different aspects of knowledge”, he added.
The chief minister said, Gandhiji was a prolific writer and every piece of his writing carries the message of humanity and sparkles with positivity. He urged the young generation to read, know and understand Gandhi and work for a better world.
The inaugural ceremony was also graced by culture minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi, eminent Gandhian leader and soical activists Krishna Mohanty and culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahi. Krishna Mohanty presented three books published by Odisha Sahitya Academy to the chief minister. Patnaik also visited the State information and public relation department’s exhibition gallery ‘Gandhiji & Odisha’.
The Odisha government’s culture department is hosting the State book fair in association of Rajdhani Book Fair, Kalinga Book Fair, Ekamra Book Fair and the Publishers & Book Sellers Federation. Over 500 stalls have opened in the Fair by publishers from all over the country.
On Saturday evening, the State development commissioner, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, will grace the evening function. Well know litterateur Daya Dishanayak, energy secretary-cum-Indo-Anglican poet Bishnupada Sethi, culture secretary Manoranjan Patnaik and Odisha Sahitya Academy president Harihar Mishra would grace the evening.
