Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of World Book Day, which is celebrated on 23rd April, the Bakul Foundation organized a Reading Marathon called READ-A-THON at the Bakul Library in Satyanagar.
Bakul Foundation had earlier organized an informal Reading Marathon on World Book Day in Rahagiri in 2016. But this was the first proper marathon it organized.
According to an official press release of the Bakul Foundation, the marathon was open to readers below 30 years of age and there were 2 categories. Those below 10 years and those between 11 and 30 years. One had to read for 3 hours or get 30 points to complete the marathon. Of course, to win the marathon, one had to read the longest and garner the maximum points.
The response was overwhelming, and over 100 children and youth had come to participate along with their parents. And there were many of them, who went way beyond their required 3 hours to read for over 6 hours.
Satyajit Senapati, student of Class 4, in DAV CSPur. He said that normally, he reads 6-7 books a week. Today, he has already read 27 books from 12 P M as certified by the volunteers. His target was to read 60 books today.
Anika Singh said that she had come to the library for the first time, and she is quite excited because both her daughters, Shivika and Saanvi had read books for over 6 hours continuously with a short food break, and she was so happy that the girls were away from phones and television and devouring books.
Bakul Foundation has been leading a Library Movement in Odisha and has been trying to promote reading through many innovative activities and attempts. Storytelling festivals like BhuFeSto have been an attempt in this direction. Bakul has set up libraries and reading corners in public spaces like parks, museums, haats, cafes etc to bring books to people everywhere.
Sujit Mahapatra, the founder of Bakul Foundation said that Although other events like storytelling have attracted children to the library, this event drew children to reading directly. What is heartening to note is that many parents brought children after 6 P M knowing it very well that the child cannot complete the marathon, but they liked the idea and wanted their child to participate in the event.
