India Reads Movement

“INDIA READS MOVEMENT: INCULCATING READING HABITS”

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ELTAI HITS KANCHEEPURAM CHAPTER & READING CLUB ‘BOOK WORMZ’ HITS

The School of Liberal Arts and Applied Sciences, Department of Languages, ‘Book Wormz’ Reading Club of Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS) organized India Reads Movement: Inculcating Reading Habits on 18 July, 2023 in collaboration with English Language Teachers’ Association of India (ELTAI), HITS Kancheepuram Chapter, and Rotary Club HITS at K. S. Moorthy Hall, HITS, Padur, Chennai. The event began with an invocation song to the Almighty.

Dr. Akkara Sherine, Head, Languages and Ranking and President of ELTAI HITS Kancheepuram Chapter delivered the welcome address.She introduced Professor K. Elango, The National Secretary, ELTAI Chief Guest who was also the former Head of English dept at Anna University and Professor at Loyola College for three decades. HOD Languages also gave a warm and cordial welcome to Dr. R.W. Alexander Jesudasan, Pro Vice-Chancellor HITS; Dr. Pon Ramalingam, Director IQAC and President of Rotary Club HITS; Rotary Club members; Dr. P. V. Nagendra Sarma, Dean Law; Dr. Shaji, Dean Student Affairs;Dr.David Easow, Deputy Director International Affairs, Mr. K. Gnanasekaran, NSS coordinator; the faculty members across departments; research scholars and the students graced the occasion. She appreciated the efforts of Dr. Marie Evangeline, the coordinator of Reading Club, for promoting the habit of reading among government schools and engaging them in reading-based activities during the school visits along with B.A. English and M.A. English students of HITS from 14 July to 17 July, 2023. Dr. Akkara Sherine praised the management for inaugurating the “Read and Lead” statue in front of SLAAS Department at HITS campus.

Dr. R. W. Alexander Jesudasan, Pro Vice-Chancellor honored Chief Guest Prof K. Elango with a memento and delivered the felicitation address emphasizing that reading helps in moulding the personality. He motivated the audience to read in all possible areas of interests, be it music or sports as an assortment of information and knowledge would help one move up the ladder. He also advised to conduct such events in a very grand manner to exhibit the importance of reading.

Glimpses of ‘Book Wormz’ Reading Club activities and activities of India Reads Movement, HITS were shared through a powerpoint presentation. The future plans of the reading club, the Department of Languages and ELTAI HITS Kancheepuram Chapter were listed.

Mr. Manikanda Boopathy K., Assistant Professor of English,Co-ordinator of ELTAI HITS Kancheepuram Chapter, introduced the newly joined ELTAI professional body members.

Prof. K. Elango started his lecture highlighting the crisis of reading habit amongst youngsters. Explaining the significance of India Reads Movement, Prof. Elango stated that the objective of ELTAI is to instil reading habit among students, especially at the primary and secondary school level. He explained that reading is the mother of all skills, but a majority of students find it difficult as they follow Western learning.

Mentioning Bill Gates as an inspiration for young readers, Prof. Elango provided some strategies to inculcate efficient reading habit. He stated that the habit of writing after reading helps one retain physical and cognitive abilities. Besides, Prof. Elango chalked out the general plan, loose structure and framework of ELTAI designed to find individual interests of the students. He encouraged teachers to introduce physical books to students to ensure they get tactile experience. He not only showed a keen interest to sign an MoU with HITS but also gave a detailed outline about the importance and purpose of Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to define the roles and responsibilities for establishing a good rapport with HITS. He defined the purpose of ELTAI Reading movement in HITS and emphasized on working together to inculcate reading skills amongst learners. He ended his lecture requesting the audience to cultivate the reading habit and highlighted various genres to be read.

The event ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. H. Marie Evangeline, Assistant Professor (SG), Department of Languages and Reading Club Co-ordinator, followed by National Anthem.