Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged young people to cultivate a reading habit, stating that books, not social media, build minds and enrich society. Speaking at the Assam Book Fair, he called literature vital for an intellectually progressive nation and described book fairs as "pilgrimage sites of knowledge." Sonowal acknowledged technology's impact, suggesting digital platforms like e-books can complement traditional reading and improve accessibility, while emphasizing the enduring depth and critical thought provided by books.