World Book Day
April 23, 2024 2024-04-23 15:18World Book Day
World Book Day
World Book Day is a worldwide event that honours incredible books and the ideas of their authors. The rich history of the day dates back to 1922. Vicente Clavel Andrés, a passionate Spanish publisher, suggested a day dedicated to books in honour of the literary maestro Miguel de Cervantes. The first celebration of World Book Day took place in October 1926 on Cervantes’ birthday.
But in 1995, UNESCO took the celebration one step further. To acknowledge the symbolic date of April 23, which marks the death of literary icons such as Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, UNESCO declared it World Book Day.
This day serves many purposes as it inspires us to relive the joy of reading and acknowledges the immense contribution of writers to social and cultural development. A lot of activities are conducted on the occasion of World Book Day. From book donations and reading challenges to public readings and awareness campaigns, this day reflects passion for books. In addition to this, the UNESCO Prize for Children and Youth Literature adds more value to it as it lays emphasis on the role of literature in promoting global peace and knowledge.
The annual World Book Capital selection showcases the global commitment to supporting literacy and knowledge sharing. These celebrations are not just confined to reading but they also explain the role of literature in communication, education and understanding an assortment of other cultures. Every year, India also celebrates World Book Day on the 23rd April. Many regions of our country celebrate this day by encouraging people to read and publish their books.
World Book Day is not just about books and authors but also about the role of reading and literature in our lives. It is a day when we should promote books to transform people and our society.