Prez unveil statue of PN Panicker 'father of library movement' in Kerala

President Ram Nath Kovind has said, it is the fundamental duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism, spirit of inquiry, and reform. The President was unveiling a bronze statue of P. N. Panicker, father of library and literacy movement in Kerala, at an event held in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Kovind also said that the high literacy and education levels in Kerala have helped the state to lead other states on several indices of human development, including aspects of sustainable development. It is a unique feature of Kerala that in every village, even in the remotest villages, there is a library, the President said. He also appreciated the contributions of PN Panicker, who made the libraries and literacy, a movement of the people. Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan, and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.