Bhatkal’s Idara Adab-e-Atfal Honors Young Readers in Annual Reading Campaign
Local children read nearly 200,000 pages across two libraries, earning awards for their dedication to books
Bhatkal – At a time when children’s connection with books is said to be weakening, Bhatkal’s Idara Adab-e-Atfal (Institute of Children’s Literature) has set an inspiring example.
The organization held its annual reading awareness campaign award ceremony for the year 1445-1446 Hijri (2024-2025) at its office in Bhatkal, where children who read the most books were honored with prizes and trophies.
The campaign was conducted through the institute’s library section at two locations: Maulana Abdul Bari Library and the Children’s Fitrat Library. Throughout the year, children were encouraged to read books, and ten prize-giving sessions were organized to maintain their interest.
At the end of the year, children who read the most pages received the prestigious “Fakhr-e-Atfal Award” (Pride of Children Award). Other outstanding young readers were presented with trophies, certificates, and various special prizes.
The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Hafiz Ahmad ibn Muhammad Sadiq Khalifa, followed by a Naat (praise of Prophet Muhammad) by Abubakar Hallare. Young students from Caravan Classes presented a short and beautiful program that was well-received by the audience.
Special guests Maulana Farman Nadvi and Maulana Amjad Nadvi from Jaipur, Rajasthan, who are associated with Caravan-e-Atfal, addressed the children about the importance of reading. They encouraged the young audience to read even more books in the upcoming campaign.
The program was hosted by Madani ibn Manzoor Armar, while Muhammad Ashhad Ruknuddin introduced the Caravan-e-Atfal initiative. Maulana Abdullah Ghazi Nadvi, founder and general secretary of Idara Adab-e-Atfal Bhatkal, encouraged children to stay connected with Caravan-e-Atfal, especially urging older children to participate actively.
Outstanding Reading Achievements
The top honor went to two exceptional young readers:
From Maulana Abdul Bari Library, Nawayat Colony:
- Bilal ibn Abdul Basir Muniri, a student at Jamia Islamia, topped the list with 543 books and 16,835 pages read.
From Children’s Fitrat Library, Sultan Mohalla:
- Abdullah Warif ibn Abdul Muheed Khatib Nadvi, a student in the Hifz (Quran memorization) section at Maktab Jamia Islamia, Chowk Bazaar, led with an impressive 392 books and 28,812 pages read.
The numbers reflect an extraordinary commitment to reading:
- At Children’s Fitrat Library: 50 children read 2,208 books, covering 70,739 pages
- At Maulana Abdul Bari Library: 110 children read 4,941 books, covering 121,773 pages
- Combined total: 160 children read 7,149 books, completing 192,512 pages
Special Award Winners
Seven children received special recognition for their outstanding reading habits:
- Muhammad Ibrahim ibn Abdul Rauf Misbah – 392 books, 16,756 pages
- Muhammad Siraj ibn Abdul Nafe Akrami – 288 books, 9,392 pages
- Ahmad Nawas ibn Muhammad Saman Khalifa – 419 books, 7,594 pages
- Ayan ibn Muhammad Ashraf Matta – 230 books, 7,550 pages
- Raheeq ibn Abdul Hameed YM H – 210 books, 6,635 pages
- Muhammad Fateh ibn Muhammad Saman Khalifa – 160 books, 5,865 pages
- Abdul Rahman ibn Abdul Sami Armar – 121 books, 5,370 pages
Youngest Champions
Two particularly young readers earned special mention:
- Umar ibn Dr. Abdul Hameed Athar Rukn-ud-Din Nadvi – 235 books, 5,136 pages
- Amr ibn Muhammad Awf Khatib – 200 books, 5,110 pages
These impressive figures clearly demonstrate that children remain deeply connected to books and have made reading a regular habit. This initiative not only serves as a means of intellectual development for children but also guarantees a bright and informed future.
Bhatkal’s Idara Adab-e-Atfal’s efforts deserve high praise, with hopes that such educational campaigns will continue in the years ahead.
