World Book Day, which was first observed in 1995, falls for the second year in a row in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a time when people are being instructed to Stay Home to avoid close social interaction and the potential spread of the deadly virus. The perfect time, it would seem, to take up reading!
“Stay at home, with books,” encourages HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. “Books are the best means of reducing stress. People are going through stress and psychological pressure due to Covid-19. In such a situation, books can be our best friends. They not only impart knowledge, but they also help us overcome loneliness. So, stay with the books at home to avoid the corona epidemic!”

Pujya Swamiji continued, “Books also connect us with our past and are a guide to the future. They act like a bridge between the past and the present. They are a treasure-trove that contribute significantly to the intellectual, social and cultural development of the country. Handed down from generation to generation, books convey ideas, rites and culture, so the younger generation should be encouraged to read.”

And, to write! “Our youth should write down their thoughts. If the message given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna had not been written and made into a book, today the world would be ignorant of the knowledge of the Gita. Many centuries-old books are as relevant today as they were then. So, it’s important to forge a relationship with books. They are the bearers of our culture and our history.”