P N Panicker
Encyclopedia
Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker is known as the Father of the Library
Movement in Kerala
. The activities of the Kerala Grandhasala Sanghom which was initiated by P. N. Panicker ignited a popular cultural movement in Kerala at the end of which the state acquired total literacy in the 1990s.
in Kottayam
District. A teacher by profession, he started Sanadanadharmam Library in his birthplace in 1926. Though his formal education had not reached high levels, he could do to society much more than many who were highly educated in his times.
Library Association) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. The slogan of the Sangham was “Read and Grow”. Later, with the formation of Kerala State in 1956, it became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). He traveled across the villages of Kerala propagating the message of reading and inviting active involvement of people. He succeeded in bringing about 6000 libraries into this network. Grandhasala Sangham won the prestigious ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from UNESCO
in 1975. He was the General Secretary of Sangham for 32 years, until 1977, when the Sanghom was taken over by the Kerala State Government. Now it is called the Kerala State Library Council, with an in-built democratic structure and funding from the State Government.
In 1977, he founded the Kerala Association for Non-formal Education and Development (KANFED). KANFED was highly instrumental in starting the Kerala State Literacy Mission.
He has also taken keen interest in promoting Agricultural Books Corner, Friendship Village Movement (Sauhrudagramam), Reading Programmes for Families, Grants for Books and building libraries and Best Reader’s Award .pn panickerfoundation.
He died on 19 June 1995, at the age of 86. The Government of Kerala observes 19 June annually as Vayanadinam (Day of Reading) with a week-long series of activities at schools and public institutions to honour the contributions of P.N. Panicker 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.
His birth centenary is celebrated under the auspices of P. N. Panicker Foundation in 2010
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
Movement in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The activities of the Kerala Grandhasala Sanghom which was initiated by P. N. Panicker ignited a popular cultural movement in Kerala at the end of which the state acquired total literacy in the 1990s.
Early life
Panicker was born on 1 March, 1909, as the son of Govinda Pillai and Janaky Amma. at NeelamperoorNeelamperoor
Neelamperoor is a village in the Alappuzha district, Kerala. It famous for its backwaters, lakes and paddy fields. People compromises from both Hindu and Christian denominations....
in Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
District. A teacher by profession, he started Sanadanadharmam Library in his birthplace in 1926. Though his formal education had not reached high levels, he could do to society much more than many who were highly educated in his times.
Contributions
Panicker took leadership in forming Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham (TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
Library Association) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. The slogan of the Sangham was “Read and Grow”. Later, with the formation of Kerala State in 1956, it became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). He traveled across the villages of Kerala propagating the message of reading and inviting active involvement of people. He succeeded in bringing about 6000 libraries into this network. Grandhasala Sangham won the prestigious ‘Krupsakaya Award’ from UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1975. He was the General Secretary of Sangham for 32 years, until 1977, when the Sanghom was taken over by the Kerala State Government. Now it is called the Kerala State Library Council, with an in-built democratic structure and funding from the State Government.
In 1977, he founded the Kerala Association for Non-formal Education and Development (KANFED). KANFED was highly instrumental in starting the Kerala State Literacy Mission.
He has also taken keen interest in promoting Agricultural Books Corner, Friendship Village Movement (Sauhrudagramam), Reading Programmes for Families, Grants for Books and building libraries and Best Reader’s Award .pn panickerfoundation.
He died on 19 June 1995, at the age of 86. The Government of Kerala observes 19 June annually as Vayanadinam (Day of Reading) with a week-long series of activities at schools and public institutions to honour the contributions of P.N. Panicker 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.
His birth centenary is celebrated under the auspices of P. N. Panicker Foundation in 2010