Get lost in the world of books, among English and Tamil classics with an ar – ray of events, poetry writ – ing competitions, book reviews and book discussions thanks to a new initiative – a reader’s forum – by the state public library department.
The forums being set up in colleges across the city, aim to inculcate a love for reading and introduce them to a variety of literature in both English and Tamil.“There is so much literature avail – able atcollege libraries, but hardly any anyone is reading it,” says Manushyaputhiran, chairman of the local library authority, who launched the forums along with his friend G Olivannan, CEO of Emerald Publish – ing and student co-ordinator of the reader’s forum.
“Though several city colleges have book clubs we wanted to bring in this forum and integrate it with them.” The forum is going full steam at more than 20 city colleges from Pres – idency and New College to Loyola College and Women’s Christian Col – lege. “We are planning to get members of the reader’s forum to meet twice a month.
very forum will organise regular activities such as book read – ings, essay and poetry writing com – petitions and author meetings as well as sessions on making short films and documentaries,” says Olivan – nan. The forum will also organise panel discussions and competitions and encourage students to take part in national writing competitions by upskilling them through workshops. “We also want to draw special at – tention to Tamil classics and cater to students who read Tamil books.
The plan is to have author meets with writers such as Perumal Murugan, Imayam, and Cho Dharman,” says Olivannan. “More than 200 students joined the reader’s forum in our college. We will be bringing in authors across all genres to interact with students,” says R Raman, principal of Presi – dency College.
“Earlier, during the library peri – od, students would sit and do their homework or finish records. After we announced the forum, more than 1,700 students signed up. We see many of them reading it. They are curious to read books and are slowly beginning to show interest,” says K Chandra, college librarian at QuaidE-Millath College, which has seen the highest enrolment in the forum.
Manushyaputhiran says mem – bers of the reader’s forum will be given a privilege card through which they can access books in their college library, avail discounts at book fairs and receive invites for governmentorganised art and literature events. “Soon, the reader’s forum will also help students publish their books.” The idea, says Manushyaputhiran, will soon been proposed to the state government to implement the initia – tive across Tamil Nadu.