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Sunday 26 June 2022
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Saturday 18 June 2022
National Reading Day: Know about P.N. Panicker
Libraries are key to the development of a society. As gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries play a fundamental role. They create opportunities for learning, support literacy, and education, and help shape the new ideas and perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society.
Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker (1 March 1909 – 19 June 1995) is known as the “Father of the Library Movement” in the Indian state of Kerala. The activities that he initiated triggered a popular cultural movement in Kerala which led to universal literacy in the state in the 1990s.
Because of this, June 19, his death anniversary, has been observed in Kerala as Vayanadinam (Reading Day) since 1996. The Department of Education in Kerala also observes 'Vayana varam' (Reading Week) for a week from June 19 to 25. In addition, it was in 2017 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared June 19, Kerala's Reading Day, as National Reading Day in India. The following month is also observed as National Reading Month in India..
P.N. Panicker's Contributions
In 1926, Panicker, working as a teacher in his hometown started the Sanadanadharmam Library. Almost two decades after this, he led the formation of Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham (Travancore Library Association) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. The main aim of setting up these libraries was to highlight the importance of education and reading in rural areas. The association's slogan was “Read and Grow,” which epitomized the importance of books in a person’s life.
When Kerala state was formed in 1956, the association became Kerala Granthsala Sangham (SGS). Panicker went from village to village spreading the value of reading. In fact, he succeeded in bringing almost 6000 libraries into his network!
SGS won the prestigious ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from UNESCO in 1975. Panicker was its General Secretary for 32 years, until 1977 when it was taken over by the State Government. After that, it became the Kerala State Library Council, with an in-built democratic structure and funding.
After SGS was taken over by the state, Panicker decided to form the Kerala Association for Non-Formal Education and Development (KANFED). KANFED led to the beginning of the Kerala Literacy Mission, which promoted the importance of education in rural areas. This mission was the reason Kerala was able to become the first state in the country that achieved universal literacy.
The 27th National Reading Day will be celebrated on 19th June 2022, the following week as Reading Week and Reading Month will be celebrated from 19th June to 18th July 2022. A variety of events will be organized in hybrid mode in Schools/Colleges/Libraries by the P. N. Panicker Foundation. The details of these activities are available at the link: pnpanickerfoundation.org
courtesy :https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/national-reading-day-2021-p-n-panicker-and-his-rich-literary-legacy/articleshow/83636936.cms
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