Coimbatore Book Festival to introduce school students to local industries
At the inauguration of the festival at Codissia Trade Fair Complex, the Collector said the aim is to make the event a platform not just for reading but for grounding young people in the realities of their local environment..
'The festival is designed to connect students with Coimbatore's industries, its small-scale sector, and traditional knowledge systems,' he said. 'Career guidance sessions have been planned to give students an understanding of opportunities in the region. The festival also serves as a space for traditional folk arts of Tamil Nadu to be performed, creating opportunities for performers. Competitions for school students have also been included.'
Jointly organised by the Coimbatore district administration, District School Education Department, and the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (Codissia), the festival features 320 stalls and more than two lakh books. It will be open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from July 18 to 27.
Alongside book sales, the event includes cultural programmes and talks by prominent speakers across a range of subjects scheduled over the 10 days.
Coimbatore MP Ganapathi P. Rajkumar, who was also present at the inauguration, said the act of reading was closely linked with Tamil identity and history. 'Our ancestors have always read. The right to read and think independently has shaped our civilisation. A more disciplined life comes from continued learning. When people stop studying, they migrate for work. The book festival is one of Tamil Nadu's initiatives that keeps this tradition of learning alive,' he said.
Mayor K. Ranganayaki, Deputy Mayor R. Vetriselvan, Additional Collector (Development) Sanket Balwant Waghe, and members of Codissia were present at the event.
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