New Delhi: Every year April 23 is celebrated as World Book and Copyright Day to promote the awareness of benefits of reading books. Since 1995, every year the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Research Organisation has organised it as an event to highlight the importance of reading books and to inspire people to take up books.
April 23 marks an important day in the field of literature as it marks birth and death anniversaries of several authors. While Manuel Mejia Vallejo and Maurice Druon were born on April 23, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Josep Pla died on April 23.
“Books have long embodied the human capacity to conjure up worlds, both real and imagined, giving voice to the diversity of human experience. They help us share ideas, obtain information, and inspire admiration for different cultures, enabling far-reaching forms of dialogue between people across space and time,” reads the official website.
As per UNESCO, “Storytelling is an incredibly effective tool when it comes to educating younger generations. Indeed, books are vital vehicles to access, transmit and promote education, science, culture, and information worldwide. For this reason, every year, on 23 April – a date that marks the departure of three great authors of universal literature, Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega – we celebrate their captivating power to spark innovation, generate knowledge and change minds.
World Book And Copyright Day 2022: Theme
The theme for World Book and Copyright Day 2022 is “Read, so you never feel low.”
“In 2022, the Mexican city of Guadalajara is taking up the mantle of World Book Capital, with a year-long programme that focuses on the role of books and reading in triggering social change, combating violence, and building a culture of peace,” as per UNESCO.