Tuesday, 18 June 2024

National Reading Day 19 June : Know about PN PANICKER

 





National Reading Day 2024 is celebrated on the 19th of June all across the country to honor the works of Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker who is often referred to as the ‘Father of India’s Library Movement’. It is in this connection that one must understand the legacy of P. N. Panicker, a great teacher and educationist of Kerala origin, who unconditionally strived for the cause of educating and writing for India till his last days.

He firmly believed that reading and becoming enlightened through books formed the bedrock of individual and social transformation. He was involved in the provision of the first public library in the region of Kerala in 1945 and later became the leader of the library movement in the region.

To pay homage to his tireless efforts to enhance the importance and practice of reading and education, the Indian government passed a law and marked June 19th as National Reading Day in 1996. It is celebrated across the country by encouraging people to read books and engage themselves in any form of reading.

Significance of National Reading Day

The day is aimed at commemorating the efforts of PN Panicker in changing society through the use of literary skills in India. The Father of Reading died on 19 June 1995. Sanadana Dharma Library established by PN Panicker and hence, he known as the founder of the library movement in Kerala.

In addition to the National Reading Day held on the death anniversary of Munshi Premchand, the Ministry of Education of Kerala has specifically designated a week for reading called Vayana Varam starting on 19th June every year. He was equally instrumental in the formation of the Kerala Association for Non-Formal Education and development-KANFED. KANFED was actively participating in the eradication of illiteracy and creating awareness of Education among the masses in rural sectors.

The effects of the movement can also seen in the literacy survey in India and the state of Kerala among the highest in the country in terms of literacy. They promote the love for reading and persuade people to embrace the pleasure of reading as well as the value that embedded in book.

History of PN Panicker

Kerala literature propagated and the prestigious Travancore Palace Library developed through the Kerala Granthshala Sangham (KGS) which originally known as the Travancore Literary Association under the leadership of PN Panicker. This association comprised of a total of 47 local libraries and this association worked at the grassroots level with the main aim of providing education.

Five years after the formation of Kerala in 1956, KGS extended to thousand six hundred more libraries in the state. Under the leadership of PN Panicker, the KGS network also got a lot of name and fame, it even received the UNESCO Krupsakaya Award in 1975.

How to Celebrate National Reading Day

1. Read a book: Of course, that is the idea about the day but you can always add entertainment by joining a reading challenge. Search for “reading challenge” images and you will surprised by a wide array of checklists and tips on choosing the books that will challenge and inspire your imagination, as well as on choosing a book that will certainly you hooked.

2. Volunteer with your local library: It might just be so that you are in a position to have a local public library that way always needs volunteers. Libraries are very important for the communities as they provide children with a safe place along with many other services that are rather peculiar for a library.

Many of the community meetings held in libraries and several act as voting stations during the election period. You can donate books to your community to pass knowledge sharing and it has found that many book donations help to complete collections of stocks available.

3. Try to share your passion with one person: Make someone a reader and take them your favorite reads. Be sure to read to your children to extend this love for books to all of your kids. It also can mean reading to another person who cannot read due to old age or any other reason you come across. Not only is it good for the brain and your stress but it is an activity that further forms a bond that they would cherish and again it helps with their brain as well.


courtesy :https://www.allworlddays.com/national-reading-day/:

READING PLEDGE (NATIONAL READING DAY 19 JUNE)

Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Plant a Tree Challenge( 5 june ,World Environment Day 2024)

 

Dear Students,

As a Part of World Environment Day Celebration.

Come on, let us do our bit in making our environment green!!
You are invited to be a part of the ‘PLANT A TREE CHALLENGE’ being organised by the school  library in connection with the WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY.

All that you have to do is to 
Plant one or more trees in your house 
Click a photograph of the same.
Write a brief description of the tree(s) you have planted.

Your ‘GREEN’ efforts will not go waste. You will be rewarded with an ‘E-Certificate’ 

All the photographs will shared on the LIBRARY BLOG. 

Click image to upload your photos



Thursday, 23 May 2024

The Story of Gautam Buddha (Buddha Poornima Special 23 May 2024)


The Story of Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha around 566 BC to the King and Queen of Kapilavastu, Shuddhodana and Mayadevi. Soon after his birth an astrologer predicted that Prince Siddhartha was destined to lead the life of a sage and that he would give up his right to the throne and all worldly pleasures.

Shuddhodana and Mayadevi were shattered upon hearing the news and decided to prevent him from being exposed to the outside world, keeping a close watch on him.

A young Siddhartha never left the palace and saw nothing more than the luxuries of it. His parents hoped that he would get used to the luxurious lifestyle and never give it up.

At the age of 16, his parents got him married to Yashodhara who was a beautiful daughter of a nobleman, The King had hoped that this would be another reason for Siddhartha to not leave the palace.

However, as Siddhartha grew older he became more and more curious. On one particular day, he asked his charioteer to take him on a tour of the city. The first person they came across was a old man, weak and frail by the side of the road. Siddhartha was intrigued by him and was made to understand that with old age comes weakness and ill health.

The next person he came across was a sick man in great pain. Siddhartha was told that the man was not immune of diseases. He then saw the body of a dead person being carried to the cremation ground. The young Prince was told that everybody would die one day and leave the world. At the end of his city tour, Siddhartha came across a sage who was calm and serene. He was told that such men give up their worldly possession and desires.

Siddhartha was deeply troubled by his first experience of the outside world. Several questions crossed his mind about life and death. He then decided that to get answers to his questions, he would have to leave the palace and give up on his luxurious life. At the age of 29, Siddhartha left the palace at night while his wife and son were asleep. He wandered far and wide, trying different ways to find the path of truth. Then finally he reached the city of Bodhgaya and started meditating under a large fig tree.

After 49 days of meditation, at the age of 35, Siddhartha attained enlightenment. From that day on he was known as Buddha or the ‘Awakened One.’ He was named after the Bodhi tree under which he meditated.

Gautam Buddha shared his knowledge with five sanyansis who meditated with him. Together, they traveled across the country teaching key principles of Buddhism.

These principles were called the Noble Truths, which were: The world is full of suffering and misery. Desire is the cause for all suffering and misery. Suffering and misery can be abolished by removing desire. Desire can be overcome by following the Eight Fold Path.

The Eight Fold Path included: Right Views, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Efforts, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation.

Buddha preached non-violence, peace and harmony. He strongly felt that people should treat one another with compassion, forgiveness and tolerance. He encouraged his followers to follow a balanced life. Buddha had a number of followers in Magadha, Kosala and other neighboring areas. He was always dressed in saffron robes and would take only his begging bowl when he traveled.

Several monuments have been built in India which were built as tributes to Buddhism- The world renowned Ajantha and Ellora caves, Kanheri and Karla caves, as well as temples and universities at Sanchi, Amaravati and other places.

Gautam Buddha passed away in 483 BC. Though he lived centuries ago, his birthday is still celebrated as Buddha Jayanti in India. The Bodhi tree is still worshipped as a symbol of Enlightenment even today.

courtesy https://mocomi.com/gautam-buddha/

Sunday, 21 April 2024

World Book and Copyright Day 23 April 2024: History & Significance

 


Organized by UNESCO, World Book and Copyright Day, also known as World Book Day, is a global observance celebrated every year on April 23. The day aims to encourage the importance of reading and writing on a global scale. Moreover, it also appreciates the prolific English literature authors and their contributions who left a mark on history. Reading books is important for students as it helps them improve their vocabulary, learn moral values, connect with the past, and increase general knowledge. 

History of World Book and Copyright Day

  • World Book and Copyright Day was officially observed in 1955.
  • However, the roots of this day were laid back in 1922 by Vicente Clavel Andres to honour a profound Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes.
  • UNESCO chose April 23 to pay tribute to the authors worldwide and encourage everyone to access books.
  • It is believed that the day serves as a link between the past and the future bridging the connection between generations and cultures.
  • UNESCO along with many international organizations come together to represent three major sectors of the book industry including Publishers, Booksellers, and Libraries to select the World Book Capital for the coming years to maintain the initiative and the impetus of the celebration.

History of Books

Books did not always have glossy covers and smooth pages like they do today. Clay tablets were used when writing systems were developed in prehistoric civilizations thousands of years ago. Papyrus was later used by humanity. The first people to create something that resembled modern books in that it was made of numerous thick, bamboo pages stitched together were the Chinese in the third century.

Then, in the middle of the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, ushering in an era when books were easily accessible to anyone who wanted to read them. We are all able to enjoy Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and many other authors’ works in the comfort of our own homes today because of that brilliant invention. However, the association between that day and books was first made in Spain in 1923 because it marks the passing of both William Shakespeare and renowned Spanish chronicler Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.


Why do we Celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on April 23?

Did you know that April 23 was specifically chosen to hold the celebrations of the World Book and Copyright Day? This is because it is the date on which numerous prominent authors of literature, such as William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes passed away.

Additionally, UNESCO also decided on April 23 due to its General Conference held in Paris in 1995. It paid tribute to and commemorated authors and their exemplary books. 


Benefits of Reading Books

The following are the benefits of reading books:

  • It improves your linguistic skills including, grammar, sentence structure, usage of words and vocabulary 
  • Some studies have shown that reading books can make you feel empathetic as we tend to develop a connection with a character
  • Another great benefit of reading is it reduces your stress and anxiety levels and helps you get distracted from worries to focus more on the words written in it 
  • In this fast-paced world, everyone has compromised on their sleep schedule, reading a book at night before going to bed can inflict a positive effect on your mind as well as help you sleep faster 

Ways to Support World Book Day

Here are a few ways to support this day:

  • Shop at independent bookstores around the world. Some of our favourites in the United States are Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, Birchbark Books & Native Arts in Minneapolis, and Little City Books in Hoboken, all of which pay special attention to children’s books.
  • Donate used books to the public library in your area.
  • Give to book charities like Books for Africa, Libraries Without Borders, and Book Aid International, which all provide books to the underprivileged and libraries in refugee camps, hospitals, and schools. For U.S. K–5th-grade students and their classrooms, a different nonprofit organisation called Our Kids Read donates books with inspiring characters from various cultures, including Native American, Black, Hispanic, and Southeast Asian.
  • Invite your friends for a reading challenge, and contest with your friends as to who can read more books in a fixed duration of time. You can have book relay with yourself as well by picking up a book of a new genre every time.
courtesy:https://leverageedu.com/discover/trending-events/important-days/world-book-day/#colophon

General Knowledge Quiz