On June 19, 2020 India celebrated the 25th edition of the National Reading Day to honour Kerala’s Father of Library Movement, Puthuvayil Narayana(P.N.) Panicker & his significant contribution to the reading culture which made Kerala’s universal literacy rate (100%) in 1990. The day aims to encourage reading among students across the country.
- The following week of June 19, 2020 will be celebrated as Reading week and reading month will be celebrated from June 19 – July 18, 2020.
- P.N.Panicker’s death anniversary is celebrated as National Reading Day. He was born on March 1, 1909 in Kerala.
About National Reading Day 2020
i.As per the notice released by The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on June 16, the 25th National Reading Day will be celebrated with a special attention on technology-driven reading.
ii.P.N. Panicker Foundation has initiated various online reading related activities, which include: Quiz, Open Art and Essay Writing and Debate Competition for the students; Quiz and video book competition for the faculty members and Librarians.
Facts about the day
The 1st National Reading Day was celebrated on 19th June, 1996.
Gist about P.N.Panicker:
i.P.N.Panicker as a teacher started the Sanadanadharmam Library in Kerala in 1926.
ii.He was the key person for establishing the Travancore Library Association or Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. The association’s slogan- ‘Read and Grow’.
iii.Later, when the state of Kerala was formed in 1956, it became the Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). The association won the ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from UNESCO in 1975.
iv.He served as the General Secretary of the association for 32 years till 1977, when the association was taken over by the State government, and became the Kerala State Library Council.
v.The Human Resource Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched a social media campaign ‘#MyBookMyFriend’ to encourage reading among students on April 23, 2020 on the occasion of World Book Day.
About P N Panicker Foundation
P N Panicker Foundation, the mother organization of P N Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra was established during the 84th birth anniversary of P N Panicker under the Chairmanship of Justice V R Krishna Iyer.
Headquarters– Trivandrum, Kerala
About Kerala:
Capital– Thiruvananthapuram
Chief Minister– Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor– Arif Mohammad Khan
