Books inspiration to living a good life, says PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi has exhorted people to read more and called for evolving an atmosphere that encourages everyone to find value and joy in reading books.

“You may depend on Google guru but you must not forget that books are the biggest inspiration to living a good life. We cannot know what the future holds in store for us without reading,” the PM said on Saturday, speaking as the chief guest at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Jnanpith Award. He also presented the award for 2014 to Marathi writer Bhalchandra Nemade, whose books are said to have influenced Indian writing in many ways.

Trishla Jain, daughter of Samir Jain, vice chairman and managing director of the Times Group, delivered the welcome address.

Referring to an initiative that he had taken five years ago as Gujarat CM, Modi said, “During the golden jubilee celebration of Gujarat, I started a massive programme called Vaanche Gujarat wherein I myself would go to the library and read to encourage everyone to do the same. Habit of reading is something that is cultivated over years. We must all do that.” The PM lamented that books published in regional languages find very few buyers, pointing out that the first print order for Gujarati books, for instance, would be just 1,250 copies.

Modi also spoke about the dwindling space for books in homes, saying, “Even when we build a house, we ask the architect finest details of the drawing room, bath room.

People may spend crores of rupees on building magnificent houses but rarely think about having a library in it.” He added instantly, in a lighter vein, “I am not talking about the lawyers here... They depend a lot on books.”