Thousands of students belonging to various schools and colleges in the district took pledge on Sunday to establish ‘mini libraries’ at their homes at a programme organised by Makkal Sinthanai Peravai as part of the on-going Erode Book Festival.
At the outset, president of Makkal Sinthanai Peravai T. Stalin Gunasekaran reminded students about the desire of late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for developing reading habit through such an effort so as to transform India into a knowledge society and an economic superpower by 2020.
The chief guest for the occasion Superintendent of Police R. Sivakumar recited a poem he had himself composed about the late President encapsulating his life and achievements.
Subsequently, an audio recording of an oath administered by the former President to the student community for creation of home libraries during one of his two visits to the book exhibition was played.
Finally, Mr. Stalin Gunasekaran administered the pledge eliciting the commitment of the students to establish home libraries by starting off with a few books and making robust additions on a frequent basis.
