Educational and literary initiatives launched in India and Singapore

In Chennai, ISRO scientist Mayilsamy Annadurai emphasized the importance of encouraging reading habits in children during a book launch event for the novel ‘Sadavu’. The novel, written by C. Eknathraj, won the 2025 Mrs. Soundara Kailasam Literary Prize. Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram presented the award and a cheque for 2 lakh rupees to the author. Annadurai noted that reading expands imagination more effectively than watching films, highlighting the novel's portrayal of women's rights and generational challenges.

In Singapore, the organization Mentaki introduced ‘Baby Playkit’, a specialized collection of educational toys designed to support early childhood learning for children up to three years old. Launched under the ‘Raikkan Ilmu’ initiative, the program aims to distribute approximately 5,000 kits annually to Malay/Muslim families. The kits, developed with input from early childhood education experts, include guidebooks and toys intended to enhance language, cognitive, and motor skills through play and parental engagement.