Readers Book Store hogs the limelight at book fair
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 16 2020:
Adorned with books of varied topics, which range from the most despotic and dictatorial rule of Adolf Hitler to the climax of Marxism's revolt against State atrocities, the "Readers Book Store" stands unique inside the Imphal Book Fair.
With a number of books with eye-catching titles displayed all over the stall, not only does it attract a huge number of book lovers, but it also evokes a strong desire for exploring new ideas and thoughts.
What's more astounding about the book stall is that it is run by a group of young students from Manipur University and Dhanamanjuri University who want the youngsters in the State to be more analytical and critical in understanding the contemporary world.
Makakmayum Furkan, coordinator of the book stall would always try to explain about the books being exhibited in the stall in his best possible manner whenever a visitor enquired about the books.
He said that he and his colleagues running the book store have been trying to propagate the beauty of Social Science to youngsters to ensure that they question themselves and understand the things happening around them from a broader perspective.
Most youths in this generation fail to recognize the beauty of Social Science and they only consider the subject as boring and unfit for the new millennium marked by cutthroat competition.
They generally feel that one who comes from Science stream would find it easy to get jobs and lead a meaningful life in future.
This wrong notion that dominates the minds of many youths in the State should be wiped out and youths should be able to feel the presence of their existence in the society.
They need to study critical thoughts from the 15th century till the 21st century, Furkan said.
"Therefore, our priority in the present reality of Manipur lies with selling books of social science and impart the essence of this school of thought so that youngsters in the present society understand what is happening around them in the society", he added.
While talking about the response of youths in the present context of the State, Furkan observed Manipur as a State where movements, protests and agitations are being carried out throughout the year and added that the agitations and movements seem to have lost their true essence.
"Our youths need to read more, discuss and analyse the ideas that have been projected and propagated by great thinkers, philosophers and social scientists of the past and present", he continued It is also high time for all in the State to come out with an alternative way of addressing the protracted issues and problems rather than solely relying on the conservative means of protesting, the coordinator went on.
Saying that he and his colleagues who manned the book store believe in Mao Zedong's famous expression "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend", Furkan continued that youths in the society should build an appropriate forum for discussion and debate on the problems and issues being faced in the society as well as to analyse the social characteristics.
The coordinator concluded that he along with his colleagues have been adequately selling books based on Social Sciences, literary works and psychological works of great writers to develop a sharper faculty among the youth readers for scientific queries and to bring an intellectual revolution through books.
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