New Delhi, May 22 (PTI) Vice President of India C P Radhakrishnan on Friday expressed concern over the declining reading habit among the youth and said a society that stops reading gradually loses its ability to think deeply, critically and creatively.
Releasing a book titled ‘The Library Man of India: The Story of P N Panicker’ authored by P P Sathyan here, the vice president described Panicker as a visionary who transformed the lives of millions through the power of books and knowledge.
Radhakrishnan said Panicker believed that every individual, irrespective of caste, class, poverty or geography, should have access to knowledge.
Recalling Panicker's humble beginnings in Kuttanad, Kerala, Radhakrishnan said he understood early in life that illiteracy was not merely the inability to read, but a barrier to dignity, opportunity and human progress.
Referring to the role played by Panicker in initiating Kerala's library and literacy movement, the vice president said what began as a modest reading room called Sanatana Dharma Library eventually transformed the social and intellectual landscape of the southern state.
“He travelled tirelessly across villages and remote tribal settlements, inspiring ordinary people and volunteers through the simple yet powerful message of 'Read and Grow',” he said.
Calling Panicker the “Father of Kerala's Cultural Renaissance”, the vice president said he believed that knowledge should never remain the privilege of a few, but must serve humanity universally and become a force for social awakening.
Highlighting India’s legacy of centres of learning, such as the Nalanda and Takshashila, Radhakrishnan said libraries have entered the digital age through e-books and online resources, but a serious concern remains regarding the gradual decline of reading habits among the youth.
Expressing concern over excessive dependence on mobile phones, social media and short-form entertainment, he said that deep reading, reflection, and thoughtful learning are slowly disappearing.
He cautioned that while technology has brought convenience, it has also reduced patience, concentration, and meaningful engagement with literature and knowledge.
"A society which stops reading gradually loses its ability to think critically, imagine creatively, and understand deeply," the vice president said.
He also said that books like ‘The Library Man of India’ can help revive the culture of reading and reflection among the younger generations.
Radhakrishnan praised the efforts of the P N Panicker Foundation in promoting reading and learning.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision shared during his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Radhakrishnan said libraries should evolve into dynamic centres of creativity.
The vice president also lauded initiatives such as the ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ programme and the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’ for expanding access to scholarly research and preserving India's manuscript heritage.
“A library can change a child's future. A book can transform a life. And one determined individual can transform an entire society," he said.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism, Suresh Gopi, and former Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, P J Kurien, were among those present at the event.