Penguin Readathon and Book Gifting Journey across India

Penguin Random House India is celebrating 30 years in India with a journey of reading sessions and library contributions to 30 spaces spanning the country. The Penguin Readathon and Book Gifting Journey covers a range of partners – from community libraries, shelter homes, informal schools, independent bookshops,organisations working with people with disabilities, an environment documentation centre, prisons and more.

By partnering with these spaces, Penguin Random House hopes to expand the reach of books and reading to diverse communities and audiences.

The partners have been selected in acknowledgement of the role they have played, and continue to play, in facilitating new and ever-expanding paths of discovery in their communities. All partners are involved in non-profit initiatives with a well-established reputation in the places they work in.

“There is no greater joy than to spread the love of reading, and Penguin's 30th anniversary theme is 'keep reading' - the mantra for the celebrations through this very special year. With this journey, we hope we will able to spread this joy to many more readers around the country."
Hemali Sodhi, Senior Vice President – Marketing & Publisher – Children’s Books.

The partners have expressed enthusiasm for the Penguin Readathon and Book Gifting Journey. Though they have diverse focus areas and audiences, they are united by a common love for storytelling. Abantee Dutta, director of Studio Nilima, a resource centre which works at the intersections of law, governance, culture, and society in Guwahati, says that this collaboration is about “unshackling a world of visions and dreams.” Another partner, Jemimah Marak, the founder the 100 Story House, a children’s library and reading room in Tura which promotes reading and storytelling for children, says, “This initiative provides a chance for children here to experience the joy of reading good literature.”Rupali Gupte, an architect who runs R&R, a cultural centre located amid the resettlement and rehabilitation colonies of Lallubhai Compound in Mumbai, says, “Thanks, Penguin, for this wonderful gift! This will go a long way in firing and nourishing the life of the mind for hundreds of kids.”

DPK Babu, Director of Ashray Akruti an NGO working with hearing impaired children from underprivileged backgrounds, says, “Developing reading habits in children with hearing impairment is very challenging. Ashray Akruti is extremely delighted to be associated with this initiative, and we congratulate Penguin for taking up this noble initiative of donating books to children in charitable organisations.”

Penguin India was started in 1985, and is the largest English language trade publisher in the Indian subcontinent.