International Book Day: The voice of the readers

For a reading enthusiast, today is a day just for them. The International Book Day is not just a day to ignite the passion to read and learn, but also to spread the relevance of literature in our lives and morals. It is also an awareness of the importance of literacy and education. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) organized this day to honour estimable authors like William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inda de la Vega. The role of literature in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the theme of World Book Day 2025. To this day, literature has always been a tool to inspire and create awareness about global concerns. 

 

Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, stated, “Books, in all their forms, allow us to learn and to keep ourselves informed. They also entertain us and help us to understand the world. For books to be able to unleash their full potential, it is essential that they reflect the linguistic diversity of our world. However, this is far from being the case today; the majority of works are published in just a handful of languages.”

 

Many notable figures have spread the word about International Book Day through social media. Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, quotes Charles William Eliot, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; They are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”  Santiago Indiguez, President of IE University, mentions, “Reading connects us to our human fellows from the past, present, and even future. Reading enhances our empathy and knowledge of different cultures and visions of the world.”

 

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, on Twitter, mentions that “Books open minds, ignite imagination, and inspire change. Let’s celebrate the power of stories that shape our thoughts and enrich our lives. May we continue to read, learn, and grow—one page at a time.” Akash Das Nayak, a Member of the Odisha Legislature Assembly, writes, “Books open doors to new worlds, ideas, and endless inspiration. This World Book Day, let’s celebrate the joy of reading and the wisdom it brings into our lives.” 

 

“A room without books is like a body without a soul,” Golden words of Marcus Tullius Cicero. Books are like a gateway into another realm, revealing a different perspective. Each page symbolizes a fresh lesson, introducing us to new people and concepts.

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