Translate all knowledge into books: Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi: The publishing industry should develop a mechanism which would enable people with immense knowledge to translate the information they possess into a book, Union minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday. 

Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the 32nd International Publishers Congress, organised by the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) here, the environment minister said every bit of information and knowledge should be transferred to the people. 

Vardhan said if such a mechanism was institutionalised, it would give a great boost to the publishing industry while helping in knowledge dissemination. Citing his own example, he said it took him over five to six years to put his thoughts to paper. "There are many people who have a lot of great ideas, but they are not probably in the habit of writing what they have done," he said. Vardhan, who also holds the portfolio of science and technology, said it was essential to record and transfer information and knowledge to the people.

"It should be made easy, accessible and affordable also. It should be available in all the possible languages so that everybody can have access to knowledge. That is I think one challenge we all face," the minister said. The publishing industry was the "most important tool" as it helped society become a hub of knowledge, he added. 

Vardhan assured publishers of all possible support from the central government. Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar also addressed the gathering through a video message and said books had always played an important role in the development of society. 

The more books people read, the more civilised is society, he said. In his speech, Asoke K Ghosh, chairman of the organising committee of the FIP, said the publishing industry had been spreading the light of knowledge and the publishers' congress would offer unique opportunities to young Indian participants. 

FIP represents the Indian publishing industry as a member of the International Publishers Association, Geneva. The International Publishers' Congress is a biennial event. This is the second time that India has hosted the event. The last time was in 1992. Publishers from countries such as China and the United States are participating in the three-day congress.