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“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin

Reading has at all times and in all ages been a source of knowledge, of happiness, of pleasure and even moral courage. In today’s world with so much more to know and to learn and also the need for a conscious effort to conquer the divisive forces, the importance of reading has increased. In the olden days, if reading was not cultivated or encouraged, there was a substitute for it in the religious sermon and in the oral tradition. The practice of telling stories at bedtime compensated to some extent for the lack of reading. In the nineteenth century, Victorian households used to get together for an hour or so in the evenings and listen to books being read aloud. But in this modern world where we are surrounded by thousands of electronic gadgets, the habit of regular reading has taken a step back. This National Reading Day, let us rejuvenate the regular reading habit.

India celebrates National Reading Day on June 19 every year. The day is celebrated in honour of the Father of India’s Library Movement – Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker. The country honours the man who not only initiated libraries in his home state but was in fact responsible for the cultural movement to advocate reading in the state of Kerala. But who was PN Panicker? Let’s find out.

Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker – Father of India’s Library Movement

The National Reading Day is commemorated to honour the father of the Library Movement, Late Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker whose death anniversary also falls on June 19. 

As per Wikipedia, 

Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker (1 March 1909 – 19 June 1995) is known as the Father of the Library Movement in the Indian state of Kerala. The activities of the Kerala Grandhasala Sangham that he initiated triggered a popular cultural movement in Kerala which produced universal literacy in the state in the 1990s.  June 19, his death anniversary, has been observed in Kerala as Vayanadinam (Reading Day) since 1996. The Department of Education in Kerala also observes Vayanavaram (Reading Week) for a week from June 19 to 25. In 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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.

Panicker led the formation of the Travancore Library Association in 1945 with 47 rural libraries with a slogan of  ‘Read and Grow’ which later became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). He travelled to the villages of Kerala proclaiming the value of reading. He succeeded in bringing some 6,000 libraries into this network. In 1977, when it was taken over by the State Government, it became the Kerala State Library Council, with an in-built democratic structure and funding. Panicker became subject to political interference and he responded by founding the Kerala Association for Non-formal Education and Development (KANFED). KANFED was instrumental in starting the Kerala State Literacy Mission, which led Kerala to its universal literacy movement. Thus, Kerala became the first state which achieved universal literacy. Panicker died on 19 June 1995, at age 86. The Government of Kerala acknowledged his contributions and ordered that 19 June be observed, annually, as Vaayanadinam (READING DAY ) with a week-long series of activities at schools and public institutions to honour his contributions 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.

Why is reading important?

Books are considered as our best friends in a real sense irrespective of our age. It is said that they are also the best companions of man. One of the basic reasons why reading is important is that it helps you grow mentally, emotionally and psychologically. Every book gives you an opportunity to learn new things and explore new ideas. Reading books increases your knowledge and makes you smarter.

For students, books help to inspire them to do hard work with courage and hope. They enrich the experience of students and sharpen their intellect. There are many benefits of Reading books; students will get more knowledge, improve memory and build more vocabulary. They play a significant role in one’s life. Books give plenty of joy to their minds, and they help students to learn new things from books. They take us into a unique world of imagination and improve our standard of living. 

Here are a few reasons why reading is important for everyone!

How do we develop a reading habit?

As seen above, reading has numerous benefits including improving your memory and vocabulary, helping you learn new things, and improving focus and concentration. A lot of people say that they want to develop a reading habit but are unable to due to a lack of time. But since we believe that it is better late than never, let’s start on this Reading Day! Here are some ways which can help you to ease your resistance.

Create a reading list

I would definitely suggest you start out by creating a list of books that you would like to read. Design a pattern depending on your interest. For example, you could create a list of novels you’ve always wanted to read but never had the chance to, or a list of books that you need to read to learn something about a topic or field of study that you are interested in. Apart from creating your own lists, you can also use lists that other people have created. A great website to find reading lists is goodreads.com.

Set a goal

A good idea to motivate yourself to read more is to set a goal. For example, you could set a goal to read a certain number of books this year or a certain number of pages each day and then work on reaching that goal. 

Schedule a time for reading

To make sure that you will read every day, you need to schedule reading into your day. You could read first thing in the morning, during your commute, before going to sleep or even during lunch. Bedtime reading relaxes your mind and helps you to get a good night’s sleep.

Find a good place to read

Something that will help you read more is finding a good place to read. This should preferably be somewhere quiet, without any distractions. You could read in your bed, in a comfortable chair or sofa, on a park bench, and of course — at the library.

Eliminate distractions

Make sure to eliminate any distractions that might be interfering with your reading — turn off the TV and put your smartphone on silent. 

Read actively

While passive reading is better than no reading at all. But it is always better to develop an active reading habit. Think about what you are reading, highlight passages that you think are important or interesting, write comments and notes either on the book’s margins or in a separate notebook. If you are reading on your smartphone or your eBook reader, take advantage of their highlighting and note features.

Keep a reading journal

I highly recommend keeping a reading journal where you can write down quotes that you like, record what books you have read, jot down any thoughts related to the book as well as any comments you have on what you have read. You can review these later to refresh your memory or to get new ideas.

Carry a book everywhere you go

Always carry some reading material with you, either in the form of a physical book, or an eBook on your smartphone or eBook reader. That way you’re able to read whenever you get a chance. Instead of spending too much time on Social media activities, we can open up the book and read a few pages. Believe me, it relaxes your mind more than being an active social media person.

Know when to quit

Don’t feel like you have to finish every book you start. If the book you’re reading is boring or not what you imagined it would be, simply drop it and start reading a different one. A good rule that I like to use is the 50-page rule. I always read the first 50 pages of any book I start. If I still don’t enjoy it after 50 pages, I just quit and move on to a different book.

Replace other forms of entertainment with reading

A good way to read more is to replace other forms of entertainment with reading. For example, instead of watching TV or movies, playing video games, or mindlessly browsing the Explore tab on Instagram — read a book. This will allow you to read a lot more books every year.

Read multiple books at the same time

Something I like to do is read multiple books at the same time. Anytime I get bored with a book or I would like a change of pace, I just switch to a different one. A great way to do this is to always read one fiction book and one non-fiction book at the same time.

Get a reading partner

You can also get a reading partner to help you keep yourself accountable to your reading goals. This can be a friend of yours, a significant other, or a colleague. You can start reading the same book with your reading partner and then discuss it as you read or once you both finish reading the book.

I hope these tips will help you to read more and develop a daily reading habit. Get inspired by Charles W. Eliot who had once said, “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.”

Go and read a book! Happy Reading!