World Book Day 2025: Celebrating Literature, Reading, and Intellectual Creativity
World Book Day, also recognized as World Book and Copyright Day, is observed annually on April 23. The occasion encourages individuals to embrace reading as a daily habit and to recognize the profound influence of books, literature, and authors on global culture and society. It also raises awareness about copyright protection and intellectual property, emphasizing the need to safeguard the rights of writers and creators.
Why April 23?
The date holds literary significance as it marks the death anniversaries of iconic writers William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. To honor their legacies and the timeless value of literature, UNESCO declared April 23 as World Book Day in 1995 during its General Conference held in Paris.
Theme of World Book Day 2025
The 2025 theme is:
'The Role of Literature in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'
This theme emphasizes how stories, books, and literary works can serve as powerful tools for raising awareness, inspiring change, and addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, hunger, and climate change.
Significance of the Day
World Book Day plays a crucial role in:
• Encouraging reading habits among all age groups, especially children
• Bridging cultural and generational gaps
• Promoting empathy, imagination, and critical thinking
• Highlighting the importance of protecting creative rights and literary work
• Enriching societies through education and awareness
By inspiring a lifelong love for reading, the day also contributes to personal growth and collective progress.
A Brief History
The idea of celebrating World Book Day came to life with UNESCO's initiative in 1995. The aim was to honor the enduring legacy of authors and promote universal access to books and knowledge. Over the years, it has evolved into a global movement that includes book exchanges, author events, and reading campaigns in schools, libraries, and public spaces.
Inspirational Quotes to Celebrate
1. "One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world." — Malala Yousafzai
2. "Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." — Mark Twain
3. "There is no friend as loyal as a book." — Ernest Hemingway
4. "A book is the most effective weapon against intolerance and ignorance." — Lyndon B. Johnson
5. "Books are the compasses and charts for navigating life's complexities." — Jesse Lee Bennett
6. "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." — Joseph Addison
7. "So many books, so little time." — Frank Zappa
World Book Day is a reminder that books are more than just a source of knowledge — they are catalysts for empathy, change, and progress. Celebrating this day means acknowledging the transformative power of the written word and ensuring that literature continues to thrive in a modern, digitally-driven world.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Dhruvi Acharya's landmark solo exhibition at Hampi Art Labs
The Journey is Home, a significant solo exhibition by acclaimed contemporary artist Dhruvi Acharya, which began on June 1, at Hampi Art Labs in Toranagallu, Ballari district, will be on display till September 30th, 2025. The JSW Foundation, the social development arm of the $24 billion JSW Group and host of the exhibition, stated that The Journey is Home, curated by noted art critic Girish Shahane, features an expansive collection of Dhruvi Acharya's works, ranging from her early creations to more recent pieces. It delves into a deeply personal exploration of identity, motherhood, environmental awareness, grief, and the complexities of urban life. Dhruvi Acharya's art, rooted in autobiography, often connects with larger, universal subjects. The exhibition's title is inspired by a poem by the Japanese author and Zen practitioner Matsuo Basho, reflecting Dhruvi Acharya's early interest in Buddhist philosophy. Her work is known to explore the psychological and emotional musings of a woman. The exhibition also features key works from the JSW collection. Sangita Jindal, chairperson of the JSW Foundation, expressed her enthusiasm for the show. 'I see hope and resilience in Dhruvi Acharya's layered works, which often reflect the psychological and emotional musings of a woman. I am delighted that Hampi Art Labs is hosting a solo show by Dhruvi, an artist I have long admired.' Describing the exhibition as a mid-career survey, Dhruvi Acharya said, 'The show includes work from various stages of my journey, including those commissioned or acquired by Sangita Jindal over the last 25 years. These pieces reflect my investigations into memory, love, loss, motherhood, the status of women in society, and the deteriorating environment. I am grateful to Hampi Art Labs and JSW Foundation for providing a space where these stories can breathe and resonate.' Located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, Hampi Art Labs spans nine acres and serves as a cultural retreat offering studio spaces, galleries, artist residencies, and educational programmes. Rooted in the region's rich artistic and architectural heritage, the centre is a vital cultural initiative of the JSW Foundation. The Journey is Home is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., from Monday to Friday, offering visitors a unique opportunity to engage with one of India's most thoughtful and introspective contemporary artists in an inspiring setting.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- The Hindu
India showcases cultural renaissance at Osaka World Expo
While nations across the globe are displaying their modern might at the World Expo in Osaka, India has focussed on its soft power and showcased a cultural renaissance. The Osaka Expo, a World Expo being held in Japan, carries the theme 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives.' This international event, held every five years for six months, focuses on showcasing innovations and fostering exchange between nations and cultures to address global challenges. It aims to create a 'Living Lab' where diverse participants come together to co-create and implement solutions for global issues, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year the Expo is being held from April 13 to October 13. The Indian pavilion, curated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), is described as an 'immersive civilisational experience, rooting India's global identity in compassion and the flowing wisdom of the Bodhi stream,' a senior official at IGNCA said. 'From conceptualization to storytelling, IGNCA has played the role of a modern-day sutradhar (narrator), stringing together India's ancient philosophies and contemporary ambitions,' he added. The IGNCA is an autonomous body under the Union Culture Ministry. The design of the pavilion is a tribute to 'Bodhisattva Padmapani' from the iconic Ajanta Caves, symbolising compassion, enlightenment, and knowledge. Bodhisattva Padmapani is a prominent figure in Mahayana Buddhism, representing compassion and mercy. Aligned with the 'Connecting Lives' theme, the India Pavilion embodies the nation's values of inclusivity, sustainability, and progress, serving as a bridge between its spiritual heritage and its ambitious future. Among the many features of the pavilion is the Lotus Courtyard, which showcases a curated collection of Bodhisattva forms and artistic reproductions of frescoes from the 2,000-year-old Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Within the pavilion is the 'Oneness Lounge', at the heart of which is the Bodhi tree as a central design element — abstracted and reimagined — while the 'Heritage Zone' celebrates India's rich legacy by showcasing UNESCO World Heritage Sites alongside an immersive presentation of hidden treasures, aiming to boost tourism and global recognition. The pavilion also highlights India's space programme. Visitors traverse thematic exhibits celebrating India's achievements. There is also a 'Wall of Life', focusing on internal well-being through Yoga and Ayurveda.
NDTV
30-05-2025
- NDTV
Eurovision 2025: Why Host City Basel, Switzerland Is The Heart Of European Culture
Basel was in the international spotlight for a week of festivities surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest but the Swiss city has been at the heart of European culture for centuries. With a population of 180,000, Switzerland's third-biggest city after Zurich and Geneva straddles the River Rhine and sits right on the northern border with both France and Germany. Basel's location played a major role in its growth and continental importance through the ages. From May 11 to 17, it was centre-stage in Europe again for hosting Eurovision 2025, the pop music extravaganza that has become one of the world's biggest annual live television events and a giant international party. The influence of the Rhine can be felt in Basel's historic centre, dominated by the twin towers of Basel Minster, where the Dutch thinker Erasmus is buried. But Basel's modern emblems are the two Roche Towers, Switzerland's tallest buildings. Completed in the last decade, standing 205 metres and 178 metres (673 and 584 feet) high, they are the headquarters of the eponymous giant pharmaceutical firm. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries now drive the city's economy. Basel is one of Europe's great centres of culture. The first edition of Sebastian Brant's "Ship of Fools", one of the bestsellers of the European Renaissance, was printed in the city. The Rhine spirit is vividly expressed every spring at the three-day Basel Carnival, which transforms the city streets into a river of painted lanterns, colourful masks and creative costumes, flowing to the sound of pipes and drums. The world's biggest Protestant carnival features on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list and attracts thousands of tourists. The city has world-renowned museums -- none more so than the Kunstmuseum, the oldest public art collection in the world dating back to 1661. In a referendum in 1967, citizens decided to buy two paintings by Pablo Picasso, who, moved by the vote, would later donate several more works to the city. Across the Rhine, the Museum Tinguely draws in thousands of visitors with its kinetic art sculptures, while just outside the city, the Beyeler Foundation hosts an outstanding collection of modern and contemporary artworks. And every year, art lovers and gallery owners from around the world flock to Art Basel, one of the world's top contemporary art fairs. In sports, Basel is home to tennis all-time great Roger Federer, while FC Basel are on the verge of winning their 21st Swiss football championship. Besides its culture, Basel is now synonymous with the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, home to globally important groups such as Roche, Novartis, Sandoz and Syngenta. The psychedelic drug LSD was created at the Sandoz laboratories there in 1938. Pharma and chemicals make Basel a major player in the Swiss economy, attracting researchers and students as well as cross-border workers. Around 35,000 people cross over from France and Germany, attracted by higher Swiss wages. Basel is the home of the Bank for International Settlements, considered the central bank of central banks. The city is left-leaning, perhaps due to the influence of its university, the oldest in Switzerland, founded in 1460. It has approximately 13,000 students from 100 countries, around a quarter of whom are studying for their doctorates. The city has also lived through major disasters: the great earthquake of 1356 and the Sandoz chemical spill 630 years later. The biggest quake in central Europe in recorded history, and the fires it caused, destroyed a city already ravaged by the Black Death. The 1986 fire at the Sandoz chemical plant on the outskirts of Basel also left its mark due to the ecological disaster caused by toxic chemicals leaking into the Rhine, killing wildlife as far downstream as the Netherlands.
