The 14th Dibrugarh Book Fair 2025 opened its doors at the historic Chowkidingee playground on Friday, bringing together nearly 200 book sellers from across India for a 10-day celebration of literature. Organised by Milanjyoti Sangha in collaboration with the All Assam Book Publishers and Sellers Association, the fair was inaugurated by acclaimed litterateur Anuradha Sharma Pujari.
In her inaugural address, Pujari delivered a powerful critique of modern technology’s impact on human intellect. “Technology has hindered both the human heart and mind,” she declared, emphasising books’ irreplaceable role in promoting critical thinking. “Technology does not facilitate thinking, but books do. Therefore, no matter how much AI technology advances, the importance of books will always remain.”
The celebrated novelist painted books as life-giving forces, stating that “by reading each book, a reader attains a new life.” She described reading as an investment, comparing it to depositing money in a bank account, where readers accumulate knowledge with every page turned.
Challenging the notion that younger generations have abandoned reading, Pujari offered an optimistic counterpoint. “The allegation that they do not read books is not true. Rather, they read more books than before,” she explained, calling on writers to create content addressing contemporary interests and new subjects.
Power Minister and Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan praised Milanjyoti Sangha as “the pioneer of book fairs in Dibrugarh,” adding that “books have benefits for society” and dismissing fears about their obsolescence as “completely wrong.”
Dibrugarh University Vice-Chancellor Prof Jiten Hazarika noted a paradox in the digital age: “The number of people writing books has increased, but the number of people reading has not.” He attributed this disparity directly to digitisation’s influence.
Mayor Dr Saikat Patra joined other dignitaries at the ceremony, which featured traditional Bihu performances and the unveiling of the souvenir publication ‘Milanjyoti.’ An intimate conversation session with Pujari followed, allowing literature enthusiasts to engage directly with the author.
The fair, returning after a two-year hiatus, will run until December 22, featuring participation from prominent institutions including Sahitya Akademi, NBT Delhi, and numerous publishers from Kolkata and across Assam. The evening concluded with ‘Nupur,’ a cultural program directed by Sattriya artiste Meenakshi Gogoi.
