Inauguration of National Book Trust Exhibition at Udaipur Information Center

Udaipur – District Collector Arvind Poswal emphasized the decline in reading habits due to the rise of the internet and social media. He noted that with information available at the click of a button, students show less interest in reading books, despite the numerous benefits that come from it. Activities like book fairs and exhibitions are crucial in fostering reading habits among students.

The Collector made these remarks during the inaugural ceremony of the seven-day Udaipur Book Exhibition, organized under the aegis of the National Book Trust (NBT) at the Information Center auditorium.

He explained that content read from books is more reliable and retains longer in memory compared to online searches. Poswal described the NBT exhibition as highly beneficial, particularly for students preparing for competitive exams, urging them to commit to hard work, as there are no substitutes for it. He encouraged diligent and honest efforts, assuring that success would follow.

### Significant Contribution of NBT to Value-Based Education

Poswal highlighted the National Book Trust's substantial role in promoting value-based education. The Trust regularly administers and showcases books on art, science, literature, culture, and personality development, providing reliable reading material to the public, students, and researchers alike.

### Connecting Schools and Libraries

After reviewing the exhibition books, the Collector expressed his admiration for the diverse subjects covered. He suggested connecting private and government schools and libraries to facilitate visits for students, enhancing their interest in reading.

### Remarks by Special Guest

Joint Director (Public Relations) Dr. Kamlesh Sharma described the exhibition as a valuable resource for youth preparing for competitive exams and provided insights on the facilities available at the Information Center library and future plans.

The event commenced with the Collector lighting a lamp in front of an image of Goddess Saraswati. Officer-in-charge Rajesh Kumar welcomed the guests, sharing that the National Book Trust publishes books in 60 languages. The book exhibition and children's activities in Udaipur are scheduled from September 20 to 26.

The program was conducted by NBT Young Professional Shubalaxmi Gautam, with the presence of various officials, including Assistant Public Relations Officer Vinay Sompura, Jayesh Pandya, sculptor Hemant Joshi, and marketing executive Kuldeep from NBT.

### School Children Engage in Activities

Daily children's activities are being held during the exhibition, allowing students from various schools to explore the exhibition. Through storytelling sessions, art competitions, and author interactions, children are provided a platform for creativity. On Friday, students from Pioneer School and Vidyabhavan School visited the exhibition. Under the guidance of Executive Assistants Deepa Singh and Mani Bhushan, a storytelling session was led by storyteller Komal Jain, who discussed storytelling techniques. This was followed by an art competition where students showcased their creativity on themes like "Books Speak," "Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child," and "Environmental Conservation." District Collector Arvind Poswal honored five winning students with books. In an author interaction session, writer Gopal Rajgopal engaged with students and youth, addressing their literary curiosities.