Balangir: Speakers at the inaugural function of a book fair here were univocal on urging youths to develop reading habit.

Writer Srinibas Udgata inaugurated the 13th edition of Balangir Bahi Haat (Balangir Book Fair) at the Koshal Kalamandal Ground on Sunday. Balangir Lekhak Parishad organised the fair.

The chief speaker on the occasion, Kalidas Mishra, said: "Upon the advent of computer and digitalisation, there seems to be a loss in interest for books. I call upon youths not to quit the reading habit. Books are never going to die."

Mishra said that earlier it was thought that on arrival of films, the theatre would die, but it didn't. "Everybody thought that films would write the death script of drama, but it couldn't. Similarly, there was an apprehension that electronic media would kill the print media but it didn't happen either. Similarly, e-books can never be a threat to the printed editions," he said.

Udgata said books never lie. "A book should be a person's best friend as they guide one in his life," he said. The writer denied the common notion that there had been a decline in the popularity of books.

"People have always loved books and they will continue to do so," he said.