World's First Free Book Fair: Igniting Reading Passion in Assam

A free book fair in northern Assam's rural area distributed around 40,000 books to 20,000 visitors, promoting reading habits and coinciding with the birth anniversary of litterateur Homen Borgohain. Organized by Jonohitokhi Library, the event aimed to bridge educational gaps for students in remote locations.

A rural community in northern Assam witnessed a remarkable initiative on Sunday as a book fair offered free books to encourage reading habits. Lakhimpur district's Azad area, over 350 km from Guwahati, became the site for what organizers claimed to be the world's first free book fair of this scale.

Under the banner of Jonohitokhi Library, 40,000 books were distributed to 20,000 visitors, focusing on students. The fair commemorated the birth anniversary of the esteemed litterateur Homen Borgohain, a reading advocate from the district. The event doubled as a tribute to Zubeen Garg, a regional icon.

With contributions from across the state, the event aimed to address rural educational disparities. Bubul Hazarika, a senior journalist associated with the project, highlighted the outreach to remote students. Prominent contributors, like Maini Mahanta, emphasized the cultural impact, marking it a noble step forward.

(With inputs from agencies.)