The magic of the book has never ceased to charm humanity. Through the ages it helped man knit his hopes and aspirations. Secured within its covers, it brings to him ancient wisdom, with which he builds the edifice of the  future.

Books not only enable us to understand things in the correct perspective, but also empower us intellectually and can imbibe in us a sense of pride in our national culture. They also transform love and sorrow, and even pain , into a form of human expression that can be experienced and appreciated by others. The growth of the human resources of a country is linked to the reading habit prevalent in that society.

For almost a decade now, books have been facing serious competition from the audio-visual media. With the advent of computers and the internet, there is a growing feeling that the book may gradually fade away. But the fact remains that it is only books and not computers that can be read anywhere, at any time and in any environment - in a running train, in a favourite quiet corner of the library and even sitting on the water tank of one 's multistoried building. The reasons for which one reads can be as varied too. One may read for pleasure, out of sheer habit, for entertainment, to study, for researching a subject, to be able to fall asleep, and also for not wanting to sleep.

Whatever the prophets of doom may say, there is no other medium that can create an intimate relationship such as that between a reader and a book. Let us therefore dispel the myth that the book will fade into oblivion. Books are there to stay.

There is, however, a need to make books reach the people and thus create an awareness about them. We need to inculcate the reading habit, specially among our youth  and make available to them books at affordable prices. It is to create this awareness that the Government of India has dedicated one full year to books by declaring the year 2001-02, commencing on 23rd April 2001, as The Year of Books.

The Year of Books seeks not only to create public awareness about the importance of reading books and find solutions to the many problems facing writers, publishers, book distributors and readers, but also to strengthen the library movement. The slogan for the Year of Books is "Books for All and All for Books".

The Department  of  Posts  is happy  to  issue  a postage stamp to commemorate the Year of Books.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India