8th Edition of Perambalur Book Fair Encourages Reading Among Prisoners

The books we are gathering this time came from the Perambalur book market.

on Mar 27, 2023

8th Edition of Perambalur Book Fair Encourages Reading Among Prisoners

Visitors to the eighth annual book fair, which opened on Saturday, come not only to purchase their favorite published works but also to donate books to the state prison department's "Koondukkul Vaanam" (sky in a cage) stall, which will then deliver them to the Tiruchy Central Prison library for inmates to read.

The first people to give books to the kiosk on Saturday night included District Collector K Karpagam, Member for Perambalur M Prabhakaran, and Transport Minister SS Sivasankar. According to Tiruchy ranges DIG K Jayabharathi, "Our goal is to encourage reading among jail prisoners and help them better themselves in a constructive way." The stand was set up under the direction of DGP (Prisons) Amaraesh Pujari.

On a rotating basis, we often borrow books for them from the Tiruchy district library. The books we are gathering this time came from the Perambalur book market. Since Saturday night, we have acquired about 200 books through the booth." The DIG said, "Tiruchy Central Prison includes a library with 2,000 books. Reading may lessen jail inmates' tension and eliminate their loneliness.

There, at least 200 prisoners read every day. Prisoners study biographies of leaders and Thirukkural and educate their fellow prisoners about them on their birthdays. Reading helps prisoners become more knowledgeable and calms them down."

S. Gnanavel, a visitor, expressed astonishment at finding the "Koondukkul Vaanam" booth at the book fair "Some end up in jail because of difficult circumstances. I think even one prisoner can be changed by good literature. Thus, I made a book offer to the vendor."