Sri Vijaya Puram, June 22: The Monsoon Book Reading Festival 2025 concluded at the State Library with a spirited valedictory and prize distribution ceremony that captured the enthusiasm of over 850 student participants. Organized by the Education Department, the week-long celebration featured multiple competitions and sessions aimed at cultivating a reading habit and developing critical thinking skills among schoolchildren across the region.
The closing ceremony was graced by Vikram Singh, Director of Education, who distributed prizes and interacted with the participating students. During his interaction, he posed questions related to the history and culture of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, encouraging curiosity and engagement. He also advised students to reduce screen time and instead focus on reading books, emphasizing the importance of imagination and intellectual exploration through literature.
Singh highlighted that the State Library is open to all without any membership requirement, and urged students to make full use of the resources available to them. He underlined that libraries serve as free and enriching spaces that support academic and personal growth.
Deputy Director of Education (Planning) and Nodal Officer of the State Library, Archana Singh, delivered the welcome address. She congratulated the students for their active participation and spoke on the significance of reading in building informed and empathetic individuals. Singh emphasized the importance of cultivating lifelong reading habits and making full use of both school and public libraries.
A detailed report on the festival’s week-long activities was presented by Sashi Kumar, Incharge of the State Library. According to the report, the programme included storytelling sessions, quiz contests, slogan writing, craft-making, story writing, news reading, and a literary treasure hunt. These activities were designed to enhance language skills, creativity, and teamwork among the participating students.
Student representatives, including Hem Shankar from Class X of VKV School, Lambaline and Sana Shahid from Class VI of Vitala Public School, shared their experiences. They expressed that the festival provided a valuable platform to showcase talents, build self-confidence, and learn in an enjoyable environment.
Parents were also in attendance, adding a layer of community involvement to the academic initiative. Their presence was seen as a testament to the positive impact such festivals can have beyond classrooms. The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Suresh J. Panicker, Librarian of the State Library, who acknowledged the contributions of students, educators, and organizers in making the programme a success.
The Monsoon Book Reading Festival stands out as a meaningful step toward making reading and library engagement a part of everyday student life in the Islands.
