NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah on Saturday visited the World Book Fair here, distributing copies of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s literary classic ‘Anand Math’ — which features the national song Vande Matram — to children to instil in them a sense of patriotism and familiarise them with the dreams of Indian freedom fighters.After touring the Vande Mataram pavilion and Operation Sindoor Pavilion at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the World Book Fair, Shah shared: “Joined book lovers like me at the New Delhi World Book Fair. Books are the best medium to gain knowledge, and one should continue to read regardless of their age. The habit of reading is fast waning, and I believe that books, whether in digital or print, are still the best way to acquire knowledge.”The home minister said Anand Math created history by inspiring millions of Indians to wage the freedom struggle and end British rule.Shah visited the National Book Trust’s Vande Mataram Pavilion as the nation celebrates the 150 years of Vande Mataram. The pavilion is showcasing the glorious saga of India’s national song, “which stirred freedom fighters with the patriotic fervor to overthrow the colonial rule,” said an officer. Shah, who also reviewed an exhibition on Sardar Sahib’s life and contributions at the World Book Fair, later posted on X: “By uniting a country that was fragmented into pieces and building one united India, Sardar Sahib’s 150th birth anniversary year is being celebrated, and the Modi government is making his great personality and monumental work immortal in the new generation. This exhibition will further strengthen the resolve among the youth to protect the country and its integrity”After visiting the Operation Sindoor pavilion, Shah said the operation was a testament to India’s invincible military might powered by “PM Narendra Modi’s resolute political will, decisive striking power of our armed forces and precision intelligence”.“The pavilion inspires young generation with patriotism and commitment to the nation,” the home minister shared in a post on X on Saturday.