P.N PANICKER AND STATE READING DAY

P.N PANICKER AND

                     STATE READING DAY

Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker is known as the Father of the  Library Movement in Kerala The activities of the Kerala Grandhasala Sanghom which was initiated by P. N. Panicker ignited a popular cultural movement in Kerala at the end of which the state acquired total literacy in the 1990s. Panicker was born on 1 March 1909, as the son of Govinda Pillai and Janaky Amma. at  Neelamperoor   in Kottayam  District .A teacher by profession..

 Panicker took leadership in forming Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham ( Travancore Library  Association) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. The slogan of the Sangham was “Read and Grow”. Later, with the formation of Kerala State in 1956, it became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). He traveled across the villages of Kerala propagating the message of reading and inviting active involvement of people. He succeeded in bringing about 6000 libraries into this network. Grandhasala Sangham won the prestigious ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from  UNESCO  in 1975. He was the General Secretary of Sangham for 32 years, until 1977, when the Sanghom was taken over by the Kerala State Government. Now it is called the Kerala State Library Council, with an in-built democratic structure and funding from the State Government In the new face of Kerala Grandhasala Sangham as Kerala State Library Council, the founder of the organisation, P.N. Panicker was out owing to political interference. But Panicker needed to work further for the society, so, in 1977 he founded the Kerala Association for Non-formal Education and Development (KANFED).

KANFED was highly instrumental in starting the Kerala State Literacy Mission which leads Kerala for its total literacy movement and Kerala became the first State which won total literacy.He has also taken keen interest in promoting Agricultural Books Corner, Friendship Village Movement (Sauhrudagramam), Reading Programmes for Families, Grants for Books and building libraries and Best Reader’s Award P.N. Panickerfoundation. He died on 19 June 1995, at the age of 86. At last the Government of Kerala stepped in at accept the contributions of P.N. Panicker and ordered to observe 19 June annually as Vayanadinam(Day of Reading) with a week-long series of activities at schools and public institutions to honour the contributions of P.N. Panicker to the cause of literacy, education and library movement. The Department of Posts honoured Panicker by issuing a commemorative postage stamp on 21 June 2004.His birth centenary is celebrated under the auspices of P. N. Panicker Foundation in 2010.  He died on 19 June 1995,.  The Kerala State observe June 19^th as the State Reading day.

KURAKAR CULTURAL FORUM OBSERVED STATE READING DAY

Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy President Prof. John said reading alone would help develop a good culture and ensure the social development of the country. Mr. Kurakar inaugurated the  State Reading Day on 19^th June,2013 at Kottarakara Kurakar Town Centre .i Kurakar Cultural Forum and Kerala Kavya Kala Sahithy observed the Reding day.Prof. Kurakar said the love for language and extensive reading habits of the older generation were the reasons behind the “high cultural standard prevailing in the State.” Prof P.K Varghese, Dr. Venugopalan Nair, Dr. Devarajan, Dr. Manu, Prof. Molly Kurakar, Mr. Sabu Daniel, Mr. Sunil, Mr. Simson John also spoke on the occasion.

                                                Prof. John Kurakar