Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 17 June 2025
The Monsoon Book Reading Festival 2025 was inaugurated on 16 June 2025, by Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, marking the start of a week-long celebration dedicated to literature, learning, and the promotion of reading habits.
The festival, held from June 16th to 22nd at the State Library in Sri Vijaya Puram, aims to foster a love for books among young readers and provide an engaging platform for students and book enthusiasts to come together and share ideas.
The inaugural ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp by the Chief Secretary, who was accompanied by Mr. L. Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Education), Mr. Vikram Singh, Director (Education), along with senior officers of the Education Department and a large gathering of enthusiastic school children.
Following the inauguration, Dr. Kumar toured the library premises where various programmes and competitions were already in progress. Activities included drawing sessions for Children with Special Needs (CwSN), interactive storytelling, book reading events, and treasure hunts—all designed to inspire creativity and curiosity among participants across different age groups.
Demonstrating his commitment to inclusive education, the Chief Secretary interacted warmly with the students, offering encouragement and motivating them to actively participate in the week’s intellectually stimulating and creative activities. The festival’s agenda also includes craft-making, quiz competitions, story and slogan writing, news reading, and documentary film screenings, all thoughtfully curated to nurture a lifelong love for learning.
Highlighting the importance of reading in today’s fast-paced digital era, Dr. Kumar stressed that developing reading habits is vital not only for intellectual growth but also for fostering critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and informed citizenship.
He lauded the Education Department for organizing the festival and creating a vibrant space for students to engage with literature and broaden their horizons.
The Chief Secretary’s inspiring presence and message set a visionary tone for the festival, reinforcing the Administration’s dedication to building a knowledge-driven and literate society. (Story Based on PR)