National Reading Day 2021 would be celebrated across the country on June 19, 2021. The day is celebrated in honour of father of India’s Library Movement, the late P.N. Panicker. Stressing on the importance of reading, P. N. Panicker was largely responsible for the cultural movement in the state of Kerala. To further the propagate the practice and also emphasize on the improvement of reading abilities, CBSE has asked schools to celebrate Reading Day, week and month.

In an official notice sent by the board to various schools, CBSE has asked schools to celebrate the Reading Day on June 19 followed by a Reading Week as well as a Reading Month. Much like last year, the board has insisted that the activities be done online.

The circular dates June 11, 2021 mentions the vision of Prime Minister to propagate the message of ‘Read and Grown’ among all citizens of the country by 2022. In view of the same, CBSE has asked schools to ‘celebrate Reading Day, Reading Week and Reading Month by organizing similar online activities as suggested by the Foundation or other activities by leveraging technology’, the circular reads.

CBSE has also advised schools to visit pnpanickerfoundation.org and to encourage the students to participate in the online activities and competitions being organized by the Foundation on the occasion of 26th National Reading Day.

Why is National Reading Day celebrated on June 19?

The day marks the death anniversary Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker or P.N. Panicker who is also called the father of Library Movement of India. He is associated with Kerala’s Universal Literacy Rate of 100%, and the propagation of libraries in the state. Read all about P.N. Panicker. 

Reading Day has celebration started in 1996 in the state of Kerala in honour of Panicker’s memory. This has, since, become a movement. In 2017, PM Narendra Modi had launched the 22nd National Reading Month Celebrations, taking the even from state to the national level with the call of ‘Read and Grow’.