Thu Jan 02 23:14:00 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Inaugurates Vijayawada Book Festival, Emphasizes Importance of Reading
**VIJAYAWADA, Andhra Pradesh –** The 35th Vijayawada Book Festival opened Thursday with Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan emphasizing the transformative power of reading. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium, Mr. Kalyan credited his success to books, describing them as his solace and strength during difficult times.
Addressing a large, predominantly young audience, Mr. Kalyan recounted his personal journey with literature since the seventh grade, highlighting how books fostered creativity and broadened his perspective. He expressed a deep reverence for books, even jokingly admitting his reluctance to lend them out, even to his daughters. He fondly recalled specific works that resonated with him, including ‘Athadu Adavini Jayinchadu’ by Kesava Reddy and ‘Vanavasi’ by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay.
The event, however, was briefly disrupted by unruly behavior from some of Mr. Kalyan’s fans who shouted down Sahitya Akademi secretary K. Sreenivasa Rao before the Deputy Chief Minister’s speech. Mr. Kalyan later apologized for their conduct.
Other speakers at the inauguration, including Mr. Sreenivasa Rao, Vijayawada Book Festival Society secretary T. Manohar Naidu, and Telugu daily Eenadu’s A.P. Editor M. Nageswara Rao, echoed the importance of reading, particularly for children. They stressed the correlation between a nation’s emphasis on literature in its curriculum and its overall development. Concerns were raised regarding the declining reading habits in recent years.
The 11-day festival, which is being held at the IGMC Stadium instead of its usual venue, the Government Polytechnic College, began with relatively few visitors on its opening day. The festival is scheduled to conclude on January 12th.
First Piper 