National Reading Day is annually observed across India on 19 June to mark the death anniversary of Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker (PN Panicker), a renowned teacher and educationist from Kerala, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Library and Literacy Movement in Kerala.
- The Day also recognises the significance of reading, encourages the habit and culture of reading, and promotes literacy among school children, youth, and the underprivileged population of India.
Background:
i.On 19 June 1996, the Government of Kerala and the PN Panicker Foundation started this Day as “Vaayanadinam” or Reading Day in Kerala (state observance) to mark the 1st annual remembrance day of PN Panicker.
- Since 1996, the PN Panicker Foundation and PN Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra have been observing the Reading Day, Reading Week, and Reading Month celebrations.
ii.In 2017, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi during the launch of the 22nd National Reading/Digital Reading Month, declared 19 June, (Kerela’s Reading Day) as National Reading Day in India.
Points to Note:
i.The Government of Kerala and the Government of India (GoI), via the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), have designated the PN Panicker Foundation and PN Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra to oversee National Reading/Digital Reading Month celebrations.
ii.The Department of Education in Kerala also observes a week-long event, Vayaana Vaaram or Reading Week from June 19 to 25 every year.
iii.The following month (19 June to 18 July) has been observed as National Reading Month in India.
About PN Panicker and his efforts:
i.PN Panicker was born on 1 March 1909 in Alappuzha district, Kerala. In 1926, he started the Sanadanadharmam Library as a teacher.
ii.He led the formation of Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham (also known as the Travancore Library Association in Ambalapuzha) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries.
- Later it became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS), following the formation of Kerala State in 1956.
- Now it has extended into a network of over 6000 libraries, reaching rural areas throughout Kerala.
iii.Grandhasala Sangham won the prestigious ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1975.
iv.Panicker was the General Secretary of Grandhasala Sangham and it became the Kerala State Library Council in 1977 under the State Government.
v.In 1977, after political interference, he founded the Kerala Association for Non-formal Education and Development (KANFED). He passed away on 19 June 1995.
- KANFED was instrumental in starting the Kerala State Literacy Mission.
Note:
Kerala became the 1st state in India to achieve universal literacy.
- Kottayam Town became the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy in 1989.
- Kollam was officially declared India’s first Constitution-literate district in 2023.
