23rd April was World Book and Copyright Day

Ranjan K Baruah
From childhood and till now one of the things that come to our mind is none other than books. Books are not only important for students but for any human being to learn new things and move ahead in life. Reading books is a hobby for many around the world and as there is demand there are many authors who have written books in different languages. Like hard copies now soft copies are also available and one of the popular editions is kindle version which can be read digitally.
During the last year when most countries have seen periods of confinement and people have had to limit their time spent outside, books have proved to be powerful tools to combat isolation, reinforce ties between people, expand our horizons, while stimulating our minds and creativity.?In some countries the number of books read has doubled.  Reading will increase as similar things are repeating this year too.
April is a month which contributes towards more book reading as there is celebration of World Book and Copyright Day on 23rd April.  23rd April is a symbolic date for world literature. It is on this date in 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors, such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
It 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, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those, who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. With this in mind, UNESCO created the World Book and Copyright Day. The Day is celebrated by a growing number of partners and since its launch has shown itself to be a great opportunity for reflection and information on a significant theme. It is observed by millions of people in over 100 countries, in hundreds of voluntary organizations, schools, public bodies, professional groups and private businesses.
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