On the pleasantly green campus of the Regional Science Centre & Planetarium here on Monday evening, a noble initiative by The Hindu got under way.
The Hindu ’s book collection drive, sponsored by Amana Toyota, was inaugurated by well-known poet and lyricist P.K. Gopi. Books will be collected from contributors and distributed to deserving, poor students and libraries of Government-run schools across Malabar, free of cost.
Mr. Gopi lauded The Hindu ’s initiative in his speech.
“We are living at a time when many people believe that all the information you need can be downloaded from the computer, but there is no substitute for books,” he told a rapt audience, the majority of which were schoolchildren.
“It was a book of short stories by Tagore I received as the first prize in an elocution contest while I was a student at a rural school that first made me realise the force of the written word,” he said.
Dr. Sudha Krishnanunni, acting chief, medical services, Aster MIMS; V.S. Ramachandran, director, Regional Science Centre & Planetarium; Biswajeet Kuila, zonal manager, Toyota Kirloskar; V. Jithesh, vice- president (sales and marketing), Amana Toyota; and T. Manoharan, director, TBS Publications, also spoke. There was also a magic show by Balachandran Kottodi, which proved a big hit with the children.
The book collection drive, as part of The Hindu ’s corporate social responsibility, will go on till June 25. Books will be accepted at all the showrooms of Amana Toyota in Malabar region, Regional Science Centre & Planetarium, Jaffer Khan Colony, TBS Book Stall, near Mananchira, and The Hindu ’s office at Shaaz Building (Chakkorathuklam).
If you have a large numbers to donate, they would be collected from your place. Individuals or organisation offering most number of books will be awarded special prizes. The Regional Science Centre & Planetarium is the venue partner, TBS Publishers is the Publishing Partner and Color Doppler is Creative Partner for the two-month programme. For more details, contact K.L. Aneesh, assistant regional manager (Advertising), The Hindu , on 9847200442 or Libesh of Amana Toyota on 9895761129.
