June 19 is celebrates as National Reading Day in India and starting from this day, the week is celebrated as Reading Week to celebrate reading and growth. The Reading Month is celebrated from June 19 to July 18 which makes it a wonderful time to start building the habit of reading. In India, National Reading Day is observed on PN Panicker's death anniversary. Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker is known as the father of the library movement because he founded 47 local libraries under the Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham or the Travancore Library Association, which was founded in 1945. In 1956, it was changed to Kerala Gran Sasara Sangam (KGS). There was also a commemorative stamp issued in his name on June 21, 2004.
Manali S Acharya, college librarian, St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim says, “National Reading Month is not just about remembering PN Panicker, it is a call to action to encourage reading habits nationwide. The celebration has several key benefits which includes enhancing literacy rates by encouraging reading from a young age helps improve literacy, which is crucial for education and economic growth. Secondly, promoting critical thinking as reading develops critical thinking and exposes people to diverse ideas, leading to a more informed society. Thirdly, cultivating a reading culture by making reading a daily habit fosters a lifelong love for learning and knowledge. Fourthly, reducing the digital divide as National Reading Month promotes traditional reading alongside digital media, balancing screen time and reading time for better cognitive development.”
In a one of a kind library in Goa, Child's Play India Foundation opened a Classical Music Library which has books on fiction, nonfiction, reference, music magazines, books for teachers, sheet music, music exam books, coffee-table books, colouring pages, and much more for music enthusiast. An initiative of Dr Luis and Chryselle Dias, the library was in the pipeline for a long time. However, during the Covid Pandemic, they finally had time to put their own personal collection and more books to set up the library. The library is open from Monday to Saturday at the Child's Play India Foundation in St Inez, Panjim.
“We want our students to know everything about classical music - from music history, music theory to the lives and works of the great composers. Many of our students don't have internet access all the time so these books will make an enormous difference to their learning. Donors’ names are inscribed in the books as a thank you for the gift,” says Chryselle.
Children as young as toddlers can visit the library and listen to the music if they can’t read the books. “We also have NCPA books and BBC Music books as part of the collection. We had many books and some we developed as we sent out a wish list of books which were donated. The collection has around 50-60 books which can be assessed by any age group,” adds Chryselle.
In her 36 years career as a senior librarian, Maria Ana Pavia has seen different generations read through books at the Goan History Section at the Goa Central Library. Being the only library with books on Goa dating back to the 1800s, she came across people from different walks of life who wanted to learn more about Goa through the library. “There was a good response for reading earlier. Now, students who want to refer from their projects and assignments and elderly readers visit the library. There are many foreigners who visited the library for their research on various topics related to Goa,” says Maria, who retired in 2022.
Starting her job in 1986 at the Old Central Library in Panjim, she was there when the entire library was shifted to the new location at Patto. The place too makes a difference, “At Panjim, there was a lot more parking and since it was in the city, there were many more people who visited the library. There is still a good footfall in the other sections of the library at Patto. Since the Goan History section is based on research oriented books, it has books in English, Hindi, Marathi, Romi Konkani, Devnagri Konkani, Portuguese and French. According to the Book Deliviery Act, it is compulsory for a book printed and published in Goa to submit three copies of the book, free of cost to the library,” says Maria.
The love of reading in children is inculcated by their parents at a young age. As parents spend quality time with their children pouring over a book, it is what they are reading that makes them fall in love with literature. Daughter of Nirmal and Assavri Kulkarni, Naia was one of the youngest readers to register at the Central Library, Panjim. This class 3 student of Shiksha Niketan, Porvorim, was only two and a half years old when she was regularly taken to the library. Now a voracious reader, she makes it a point to carry at least one book and one bird guide on her travel away from home. “When Naia was born, we sent out an email to all our family and friends and informed them that they can send us books instead of gifts for Naia to read as she grows up. We have loads of books and now the collection has grown to two cupboards of books for her reading pleasure,” says noted photographer, Assavri.
Naia adds, “I love science which is my favourite subject in school but I love reading all books. I enjoy my visits to different libraries in Goa and I make it a point to visit bookshops at the airports when I am travelling with my parents. I love reading books by Romulus Whitaker, Ruskin Bond, Enid Blyton and Sudha Murthy.”
It is important that children read every day, as this helps them build background knowledge, enhances vocabulary, exposes them to new cultures and concepts, and encourages them to make connections with characters experiencing a variety of emotions. This National Reading Day, let children choose their books. Children get excited about reading, and that happens when they are encouraged to choose their own books.