Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, initiated a ‘Reading Marathon’ in Srinagar, emphasizing knowledge, fitness, and environmental responsibility. The event saw participation from numerous youths from local colleges and universities, advocating for the importance of books over drugs. Sinha highlighted the significance of education beyond classrooms at the banks of Dal Lake during the event.
Thousands of young readers and runners from colleges and universities in Jammu and Kashmir engaged in the Reading Marathon organized by the National Book Trust as part of the Chinar Book Festival. This event, held in conjunction with Education Week, commemorated six years of the National Education Policy, promoting the idea that education should extend outside traditional settings. The theme ‘Run for a Green Future’ underscored the importance of both knowledge discipline and environmental conservation.
The Reading Marathon, a part of the Chinar Book Festival, took place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, marking the first-ever “Reading Run.” This initiative, led by the National Book Trust (NBT) India in collaboration with the District Administration Srinagar, aimed to foster reading habits, lifelong learning, education, and environmental consciousness among youth in the region. The event sought to encourage schoolchildren and young people across the Valley to engage in reading and promote environmental awareness.
Reading marathons have evolved from traditional 24-hour read-aloud events to global literacy campaigns and digital challenges. Various initiatives worldwide, such as university-led public readings and AI-assisted literacy drives, have contributed to promoting literacy and a love for reading. Organizations like the British Council have conducted online global reading marathons, while regional bodies have utilized tools like Google’s Read Along app to enhance youth literacy. Additionally, individuals have set Guinness World Records for the “longest marathon reading aloud,” demonstrating extraordinary endurance in the pursuit of literacy.
