Every time education and literacy has been a criterion, Thiruvananthapuram has outperformed the busiest metros of the country. However, a lot of effort has been put into Kerala’s education system for decades. PN Panicker is one personality who triggered a popular cultural movement in Kerala that produced universal literacy in the state in the 1990s.

His death anniversary – June 19 – is observed as the National Reading Day in India since 2017. 

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Who was PN Panicker?

Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker, known as the Father of the Library Movement in Kerala, was a school teacher. He founded the ‘All Travancore Granthashala Sangham’ or Travancore Library Association in 1945. This collective of libraries from the Kingdom of Travancore transformed into ‘Kerala Granthashala Sangham (KGS)’, a state-wide library association that aimed to increase the use of libraries and highlight the importance of literacy, especially in rural areas. The organisation was led by Panicker for three decades. The former school teacher supported and opened new libraries. The movement grew and from 1955 to 1975, adding 1,747 to 4,280 libraries, the Rural Libraries of Kerala report by research scholar KS Ranjith reveals.

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 In Malabar, the movement started night classes from 1937 onwards. PN Panicker’s efforts were honoured with the UNESCO KRUPSKAYA award in 1975.

The idea of universal literacy was born in 1977 when Panicker decided to form the Kerala Association for Non-Formal Education and Development (KANFED). The association promoted the importance of education in rural areas.

Panicker, 86, died in 1995. To honour him, the Government of Kerala announced that June 19 will be observed as Vaayanadinam (Reading Day ). The Department of Posts acknowledged Panicker’s death by issuing a commemorative postage stamp on June 21 2004. It was in 2017 that Indian PM Narendra Modi declared June 19 as National Reading Day in India. The following month is observed as the Reading Month in India.