NEWS

President of India Unveils a Statue of Late Shri P.N. Panicker

ABOUT

Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker

• 1909-1995
• Known as the Father of the Library Movement of Kerala.
• His death anniversary, has been observed in Kerala as Vayanadinam (Reading Day) since 1996.
• In 2017, PM has declared June 19, Kerala’s Reading Day, as National Reading Day in India.
• The following month is also observed as National Reading Month in India
• Contributions
  • Led the formation of Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham (Travancore Library Association) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries.
  • The slogan of the organization was ‘Read and Grow’.
  • Later on, with the formation of Kerala State in 1956, it became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS).
  • He traveled to the villages of Kerala proclaiming the value of reading.
  • Grandhasala Sangham won the ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from UNESCO in 1975.
  • It became the Kerala State Library Council, with an in-built democratic structure and funding.