Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to people to give books instead of bouquets as a way of greeting. This, he said, can “make a big difference.”
Mr. Modi was talking after inaugurating the Reading Day Reading Month celebrations organised by the P.N. Panicker Foundation at the St. Teresa’s College auditorium, near here, as part of expanding the Reading Day programmes at the national level.
The month-long celebrations between June 19, the remembrance day of Panicker, and July 18, will be held in 21 States. “I am also happy to see that the foundation is now focusing on digital literacy. This is the need of the hour,” Mr. Modi said.
“Kerala has been a torchbearer in the field of literacy and an inspiration to the nation, coming up with the first 100% literate city and first 100% literate district. Kerala was also the first State to attain 100% primary education. This could not have been achieved by the government alone. Citizens and social organisations have played an active role in this remarkable achievement, thus setting an example in people’s participation. It is said that one literate woman can educate two families. Kerala has set an example worthy of emulation in this regard,” he said.
He said that reading and knowledge should not be just work-related but should help develop habits of social responsibility and service to the nation and humanity. It should cure the evils in society and nation.
It should spread the idea of peace along with respect for unity and integrity of the nation.
Commenting on a pilot project of digital libraries for which the foundation is working with 18 public libraries in the State in collaboration with the Delhi-based Indian Public Library Movement, Mr. Modi expressed his desire to see such a reading and library movement across India.
‘Real goal’
“The movement should not be limited to make people literate. It should try to achieve the real goal of bringing social and economic change. The foundation of good knowledge should be followed by a super-structure of a better society. I believe in people’s power. It has the capacity to make a better society and nation,” he said. Earlier, Mr. Modi released a poster and souvenir on Reading Month celebrations.
Governor P. Sathasivam, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P.J. Kurien, and K.V. Thomas and Suresh Gopi, MPs, were present.