In a remarkable display of literary enthusiasm, more than 3,000 parents participated in a groundbreaking event at a sprawling ground in Pune, where they simultaneously read stories to their children. This collective effort earned them a prestigious place in the Guinness World Records, a feat celebrated by organizers on Friday.
Notably, another Guinness World Records achievement unfolded at Fergusson College ground, where an impressive 7,500 books were utilized to spell out ‘Bharat.’ This successful endeavor surpassed the previous record held by Saudi Arabia, marking a significant achievement for the participants.
The National Book Trust (NBT), in collaboration with the Pune Municipal Corporation, orchestrated this mega event at the SP College ground in the heart of the city. A total of 3,250 parents and their children engaged in the reading activity, with an astounding 3,066 parents successfully reading stories simultaneously for four minutes. This triumph broke the previous world record set by China, as confirmed by Milind Marathe, the chairperson of NBT.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged and lauded this noteworthy effort to promote a culture of reading. Modi expressed his commendation in response to a post by the education body about the event, stating, “Commendable effort to spread the joys of reading. Compliments to those involved.”
The mass storytelling initiative was designed to foster a reading culture across all age groups, seeking to surpass China’s previous record for simultaneous storytelling. The entire four-minute reading activity was meticulously recorded by adjudicators from the Guinness World Records.
This groundbreaking event serves as a precursor to the upcoming Pune Book Festival scheduled from December 16 to 24 at Fergusson College. Thousands of books in English and 10 regional languages will be showcased and available for sale during the nine-day festival, organized by NBT in collaboration with the Pune civic body. The festival promises to be a vibrant platform with storytelling sessions, plays, musical events, and various cultural and literary activities to engage and inspire attendees.
Also read: Storytelling: A powerful teaching-learning medium