As part of the PN Panicker 26th National Reading Day/Reading Month celebrations, the PN Panicker Foundation is organising a Cavalcade of Books as Proclamation Yatra on 11 Jun 2022 at 3 PM, from PN Panicker's statue at Poojappura. A caparisoned elephant, accompanied by the drumbeatsof the Kudumbasree members, art forms of children, musicians playing on the traditional musical instruments etc, will stress upon the importance of reading and the need for inculcating reading habit among the children.
A copy of the Indian Constitution will be carried by the caparisoned elephant and the 'Cavalcade of Books' will pass through the main thoroughfare of Thiruvananthapuram, covering the following :-
(a) Ulloor smaarakam at Jagathy
(b) Statues of P Bhaskaran and G Devarajan at Maanaveeyam Lane
(c) Ayyankali at Vellayambalam Square
(d) Vayalar Rama Varma at Keltron
(e) Sree Narayana Guru at Museum junction and
(f) CV Raman Pillai at the Public Library.
The 'Cavalcade of Books' will be a unique and a first-of-its-kind event in the country. It will also be accompanied by children, their parents, teachers and eminent literary/cultural luminaries and will acknowledge receptions and felicitations enroute. The whole distance is estimated to be around 3 km.
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On the ground
The above is the replica of the brochure that the Foundation had brought out in connection with the programme. Accordingly, we were at PN Panicker's statue by a half past 1. The cavalcade formed up slowly and steadily and by 3, the chief guests viz. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Madhusoodanan Nair and Prof George Onakkoor had arrived and the short speech session, followed by floral tributes to PN Panicker and the lighting of the traditional lamp set the ball rolling.
Two policemen-on-horseback led the cavalcade, followed by the columns of various cultural forms enacted by groups of men, women and children with the majestic and caparisoned elephant - Sivakumar - carrying the Indian Constitution immediately behind the key Foundation members formed the mainstay. Our Science Exploratory, Bookmark traveller and a few more vehicles followed.
We took 21/2 hrs to traverse the entire route which was cheerfully and heartily welcomed by the people of Thiruvananthapuram and at many points resorted to photography and selfies with us.
It was a high-voltage interaction with the general public!
At a half past 5, sitting on the lawns of the Public Library, after paying floral tribute to CV Raman Pillai we were exhausted but thrilled that the event had gone off so well. It was definitely time well spent!
Tailpiece.
After dinner at the Foundation, we were in time to board the super deluxe bus bound for Mananthavadi. Kuttu, Aniyan and self were together.
Aniyan got off at Kottayam at the stroke of midnight.
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