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[[File:PN Panicker 2004 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Panicker on a 2004 stamp of India]]
'''Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker''' (1 March 1909 – 19 June 1995) is known as the ''Father of the [[Library]] Movement'' in the Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Vishnu|last=Swaroop|date=19 June 2019|accessdate=2020-04-21|title=Reading awareness vehicle to visit govt schools, villages in Coimbatore district|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/reading-awareness-vehicle-to-visit-govt-schools-villages-in-coimbatore-district/articleshow/69859844.cms|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Mat">{{cite web |title=പി.എന്‍. പണിക്കര്‍; വായനയുടെ അണയാത്ത വഴിവിളക്ക് {{!}} PN Panicker Readers Day 2020 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619112814/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/special/vayanadinam-2020/pn-panicker-readers-day-2020-1.4840297 |website=www.mathrubhumi.com |language=Malayalam |date=19 June 2020}}</ref> The Department of Education in Kerala also observes ''Vayana varam'' (Reading Week) for a week from June 19 to 25.<ref name="Mat" />

In 2017, Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] declared June 19, Kerala's Reading Day, as National Reading Day in India.<ref name="Mat" /> The following month is also observed as National Reading Month in India.<ref name="Mat" />
==Early life of PN Panicker==
[[File:P n Panicker Childhood house.jpg|thumb|Childhood house of P. N. Panicker at [[Neelamperoor]] ]]
Panicker was born in a [[Nair]] family on 1909 March 1 to Govinda Pillai and Janaky Amma at [[Neelamperoor]], [[India]].<ref name="പി.എൻ. പണിക്കർ: ഒറ്റയ്ക്കൊരു സംഘം">{{Cite web
|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/indepth/readers-day/2018/06/19/pn-panicker-father-of-the-library-movement.html |title=പി.എൻ. പണിക്കർ: ഒറ്റയ്ക്കൊരു സംഘം |website=ManoramaOnline |access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> In 1926 he started the ''Sanadanadharmam'' Library as a teacher in his hometown.<ref>[http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?articleType=Malayalam%20News&programId=1073760377&contentId=5606152&contentType=EDITORIAL&tabId=11&BV_ID=@@@ വായനാദിനാചരണം നാളെ, മലയാള മനോരമ ജൂൺ 18, 2009]</ref> he was a teacher and his influence on society was much greater than many of his time.

==Contributions==
Panicker led the formation of ''Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham'' ([[Travancore]] Library Association) in 1945 with 47 rural libraries. The slogan of the organization was '<nowiki/>''Read and Grow'''. Later on, with the formation of Kerala State in 1956, it became Kerala Granthasala Sangham (KGS). He traveled to the villages of Kerala proclaiming the value of reading. He succeeded in bringing some 6,000 libraries into this network. Grandhasala Sangham won the [[UNESCO_Nadezhda_K._Krupskaya_literacy_prize|‘Krupsakaya Award’]] from [[UNESCO]] in 1975. Panicker was the General Secretary of Sangham for 32 years, until 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.

==KANFED==
[[File:P n Panicker worked school.jpg|thumb|GLPS Neelamperoor where P. N. Panicker worked for years]]
After his organization was taken over by the State, Panicker became subject to political interference. In 1977 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 took a keen interest in promoting Agricultural Books Corners, The Friendship Village Movement (Sauhrudagramam), Reading Programmes for Families, Grants for Books and building libraries and Best Reader’s Award P.N. Panicker Foundation.

==Legacy ==
[[File:Pnpanicker memorial school ambalappuzha.jpg|thumb|P. N. Panicker Memorial School at [[Ambalappuzha]]]]
Panicker died on 19 June 1995, at age 86.<ref name="വായനയുടെ കുലപതിക്ക് ആദരപൂര്‍വ്വം">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bakkalam.com/pnpanikkar-father-of-library-movement/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624074021/http://www.bakkalam.com/pnpanikkar-father-of-library-movement/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-24 |title=വായനയുടെ കുലപതിക്ക് ആദരപൂര്‍വ്വം |date=2013-06-24 |website=archive.is |access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> 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 honor his contributions to the cause of literacy, education and library movement.

The Department of Posts honored Panicker by issuing a commemorative postage stamp on 21 June 2004.

His birth centenary was celebrated under the auspices of the P. N. Panicker Foundation in 2010.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101031074259/http://www.kerala.gov.in/education/liter.htm Official Portal of Government of Kerala]
* [http://www.iiz-dvv.de/index.php?article_id=369&clang=1 KANFED and the Adult Education Scene in Kerala]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080402001348/http://www.gla.ac.uk/kerala/lib_aded.htm Chapter 4: Non-formal education from ''Literacy in Kerala: Report of research undertaken November 2005 – October 2006'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090303102653/http://education.nic.in/unesconew/unesco-Awards.asp UNESCO International Fellowships/Awards/Prizes–Winners from India]
* [https://philaindia.info/postage-stamp-on-p-n-panicker/ P.N.PANICKER stamp released]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panicker, P. N.}}
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian librarians]]
[[Category:People from Kerala]]
[[Category:1909 births]]

P. N. Panicker - Revision history

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