HarperCollins announces campaign to encourage reading

Announcing on his LinkedIn page, Anantha Padmanabhan, chief executive officer at HarperCollins, said, “Marking the beginning of HarperCollins India's Year of Reading, the campaign reflects the publisher’s long-term commitment to nurturing readers across ages and communities, and to recentring reading as a vital part of everyday life.”
 
Timed with the start of the new year, when people reflect on personal goals and resolutions, Read for Pleasure invites readers across the country to make a simple yet meaningful commitment: 30 minutes of reading every day. At its heart, the campaign is built on the belief that reading is not merely an academic skill, but a lifelong habit that strengthens imagination, empathy, emotional well-being, and critical thinking.
 
Designed to be inclusive and accessible, Read for Pleasure welcomes children, young adults, and adult readers alike. The campaign encourages everyone to commit to 30 minutes of reading every day, reinforcing reading in any language they prefer as a simple, accessible habit that fits into real lives. 

This could include reading to children, elders, or those who cannot read; reading along with others; and finally, reading for themselves.
 
“Over the course of the year, the campaign will roll out through a blend of on-ground and digital initiatives, creating multiple touchpoints for audiences to rediscover the joy of reading in everyday life. Key elements include collaborations with bookstores and retailers, as well as monthly reading sessions with book clubs,” Padmanabhan said.
 
Schools will be encouraged to help lay the foundation for lifelong reading habits by inviting students to pledge to read for 30 minutes every day for pleasure. Additionally, HarperCollins will partner with charitable organisations to improve access to books for children in underserved communities.
 
Within the organisation, HarperCollins India will introduce a monthly Read for Pleasure Hour to encourage employees to read in any language of their choice. Employees’ children will also be invited to participate by bringing their own books or choosing from those available in the office.
 
To expand the movement further, HarperCollins India aims to engage corporates by encouraging the creation of reading clubs for employees and by supporting existing clubs with curated reading lists and resources.
 
Authors and regional language publishers will also be invited to join the campaign by sharing book recommendations with their social media audiences, helping to build a larger community of readers.