Theologian-writer Mehmed Göktaş who came together with his reader in book fair held last Saturday in Batman said a man would progress by reading and knowledge.

Authors like Mehmed Göktaş, Abdulkadir Turan, İhsan Süreyya Sırma, Mehmed Ali Gönül, Emine Şenlikoğlu, Saadullah Aydın and Nadire Batu showed participation in Batman First Book Fair which organized by the support of Batman Governorate, municipality, Batman University, Culture, and Tourism Directorate and Provincial National Education Directorate.

Speaking to ILKHA correspondent, "We live in such a time that there are an invisible struggle and war, and there is a serious battle between the book and the obstacles in front of the book, a serious war that we have not seen," said Mehmet Göktaş about the book fair.

"There are so many obstacles that keep human beings from knowing, for example, a person may neglect to eat, but after a while, he can eat, even if they have obstacles in front of them, he will eat eventually. But knowledge is now like that. If you missed it then you cannot catch it," added Mehmet Göktaş.

"Our people must raise their level of knowledge"

Göktas said: "We see another thing, especially students, our young people are thirsty for book and knowledge. I believe that they will full these hunger and thirst. I hope that this will be a beginning. We believe that this fair is going to be much bigger next year and it will be more quality. Our people must raise their level of knowledge. At the end of each of our prayers, 'O my Lord, give us level in your presence' we say but levels cannot be gained by only praying, it can be by reading. A man can progress with reading and knowledge."

Then Göktaş, who came together with his readers, both signed his books and chatted with them.

The fair, which started on October 21st, will be open to visitors from 10.00 to 21.00 hours until 29th October. (M.Sait Çelik - ILKHA)