Governor inaugurates Patna book fair

Patna, Dec 1 (UNI) 'Patna book fair' will create a sense of intellectual awareness among the people which would help regain Bihar's past educational glory, Governor R S Gavai today said.

''Nalanda University in the state was once regarded as international centre of knowledge and wisdom,'' Mr Gavai said while inaugurating the fair here.

In his inaugural address, Mr Gavai said Bihar was the international centre of knowledge and wisdom when most parts of the world were still passing through transition period.

Describing the 'Patna book fair' as a great event which was fast becoming a glorious tradition of the entire country, he said spectacular response from young boys and girls indicated that the appetite for knowledge was intense among them which augured well for the future of the nation.

Differentiating between 'educated' and 'learned', Mr Gavai said anyone having formal education in schools and colleges could be described as 'educated' but a learned person could have great intellect even without having any formal education. He said history was witness to many personalities who contributed in the intellectual field without having any formal education.

While expressing his pleasure over the the theme of the book fair-'tomorrow's children', he called uopn the parents to provide better education to their children as they were the future of the nation.

Education Minister Brishen Patel said with the change of government, there was a perceptible change on the education scenario of Bihar. ''The Centre had announced that it would spend 6 per cent of the budgetary allocation on education but it was not being implemented,'' he lamented.

Without Bihar's development India could not afford to become a developed nation, he added.

Addressing the function, former Chief Minister Dr Jagannath Mishra urged the Patna book fair committee to organise fairs at district headquarters as well because lakhs of interested people could not afford to come here to visit the book fair.

UNI XC-RS PL KLC1742