All books talk, but a good book listens as well: World Book Day

World book day is being celebrated to promote reading habits, copyright and licensing. Instead of chocolates and other gifts on birthdays, if we start a habit of giving books to children they will start reading book and books will be the best friends of them for their lifetime. As per Malala Yousafzai said, “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” Mark Haddon’s statement proves that “Reading is a conversation. All the books talk. But a good book listens as well.”

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day said,

“Books are a form of cultural expression that lives through and as part of a chosen language. Each publication is created in a distinct language and is intended for a language-specific reading audience. A book is thus written, produced, exchanged, used and appreciated in a given linguistic and cultural setting. This year we highlight this important dimension because 2019 marks the International Year of Indigenous Languages, led by UNESCO, to reaffirm the commitment of the international community in supporting indigenous peoples to preserve their cultures, knowledge and rights.”

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World book day first observed on April 23, 1995, it is an annual event organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Many programmes are organised today centred around reading sessions, book promotion, author meets and book launches to celebrate the love for books.

A celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures. On this occasion, UNESCO and the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry – publishers, booksellers and libraries, select the World Book Capital for a year to maintain, through its own initiatives, the impetus of the Day’s celebrations.

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23 April is a symbolic date in world literature. It is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. This date was a natural choice for UNESCO’s General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books.

By championing books and copyright, UNESCO stands up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge, with the work across the board – from the Creative Cities of Literature network to promoting literacy and mobile learning and advancing Open Access to scientific knowledge and educational resources.

COURTESY:- NEWS BHARATI