Agartala, Apr 04, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, April 4: "The essence of all religion is one. Only their approaches are different"~ Mahatma Gandhi.

In this world there are people who consider books to be their constant companions. On weekends after a wholesome lunch during a lovely and warm afternoon some still open their books to travel a whole new universe for the time being. I still consider that there still exist bookworms who like to thread the needle of a story for an entire day. The year round wait for the annual book fair embraces their hope and excitement until the golden day finally arrives.

In the 41st Agartala Book Fair, an auspicious aspect of uniting citizens by overcoming the boundaries of religion through books has been witnessed for the last few days. A diverse range of genres is presented for sale at the book stalls, targeting young as well as mature minds.

The collection of books is well sorted among fiction, non-fiction, young adult, biography and autobiographies, travel, self-help, religious, comics, horror, fantasy, classics, literary fiction, action and adventure, and countless more. Educational books encompassing the fields of science, humanities, and commerce can also be found.

Quoting eminent Bangladeshi leader Hamza Yusuf, one of the staff of Batighar, a Book publishing House from Bangladesh, said, "Religion is here to unite us. It's not here to divide us. If it's dividing us, it's not God's religion, it's something else".

True to the quotation, Batighar appears to be a torch bearer and spreading lights of oneness despite religious divides. Batighar is a book stall where people of almost all faiths will find books of their choices.

“On many occasions, I see people of different faiths purchasing books standing side by side – this scene reminds me it is the only book that can bind humans together irrespective of their religion” the Batighar stall staff said.

People of different faiths want to live peacefully together – but it is the same people who burn books, create division among people in the name of religion.

Batighar staff revealed another interesting information about Bangladesh. Suddhachar (chastity) is a book that is mandatory to be kept in all libraries in Bangladesh – and, this book highlights good practices suggested in different religions for developing a good moral character.