Call to preserve the mother tongue for future generations

The second day of the 36th Vijayawada Book Festival on Saturday opened with improved footfall, even as a few book stall owners complained about alleged negligence and mismanagement.

Students and youngsters made a beeline for the exhibition, which was inaugurated amidst much fanfare on Friday.

Supreme Court judge Pamidighantam Narasimha, A.P. Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Raghu Ramakrishna Raju and others took part as chief guests. They spoke about the importance of preserving mother tongue for the future generations.

On the second day, Dalit litterateur Koyi Koteswara Rao said citizens should oppose the ideology of Manusmriti, which he said was the root cause of caste discrimination and other social evils in the society. He was speaking while launching the book, ‘Manusmriti lo Emundi’, written by P. Madhu, president of Makineni Basavapunnaiah Kendram.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Koteswarao pointed out that the ideology contained in Manusmriti is opposed to the Indian Constitution and that only those who follow the Constitution are true patriots.