Pune, 4th December 2024: A new world record attempt is underway to create the “largest online album of book covers,” aimed at encouraging reading culture and fostering richer connections.
The record attempt will be officially registered with Guinness World Records during the Pune Book Festival.
The initiative is a joint effort of the Sakal Media Group, the National Book Trust, and Savitribai Phule Pune University, and was inaugurated on Tuesday at Sakal’s office with the presence of various eminent figures from diverse fields.
The world record attempt is part of the Pune Book Festival, with Sakal Media Group taking the lead in this initiative. Prominent personalities such as Dr. Sadanand More, former President of the Marathi Literary Conference, Dr. Suresh Gosavi, Vice Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, and Sakal Editor Samrat Phadnis were present at the event.
Dr. More appreciated the initiative, highlighting that it would generate new readers and offer many literary choices.
Dr. Gosavi discussed how initiatives like this help expand reading culture among students, noting that nearly six crore people in Maharashtra are connected to the state’s education department. He emphasized that promoting reading habits among students would be crucial for future cultural growth.
Phadnis elaborated on Sakal’s involvement in organizing this world record attempt, calling it a socially sensitive initiative designed to unite society through literature.
Yuvraj Malik from the National Book Trust also shared his aspirations to establish Pune as the "Book Capital" at a global level, emphasizing the city's commitment to books and culture.
The Pune Book Festival, running from December 14 to 22, will see a concerted effort to reach one crore people. Milind Marathe of the National Book Trust explained that the festival attracts a significant portion of the public who purchase books, further contributing to the culture of reading.
As part of the world record attempt, Sakal Media Group is inviting the public to participate by uploading photographs of their favorite book covers. This initiative aims to reach approximately 25 lakh people, encouraging engagement with books in the process.
Dr. Gosavi of Savitribai Phule Pune University assured support through technological assistance and will compile a "White Paper" to analyze the data collected from participants.
In an effort to promote reading at an early age, Suraj Mandhre, Education Commissioner, called for libraries to focus on providing access to books for readers instead of just storing them.