Patna, June 20, 2025: To mark National Reading Day, a seminar titled “Reading Empowers the Mind, Refines the Speech, and Liberates the Soul” was held at British Lingua, Patna. The event attracted a diverse audience of students, educators, and language enthusiasts united by a shared commitment to literacy and learning.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Birbal Jha—eminent linguist, English litterateur,  author, and founder of British Lingua—emphasised the transformative power of reading in shaping individuals and driving societal change. Widely credited with initiating a revolution in English language training in India, Dr Jha is also known for his educational activism and his motivational outreach to young minds across the country.

“Reading is the gateway to self-reliance, self-respect, and social transformation. The more you read, the more you rise,” said Dr Jha, setting the tone for the session.

Describing reading as “the soul of education and the spirit of a civilised society,” he urged the youth to cultivate it not merely as a skill but as a lifestyle of intellectual and emotional enrichment.

Drawing a connection between literacy and leadership, Dr Jha remarked, “A reader today is a leader tomorrow—build your future one page at a time.” He further encouraged attendees to embrace books as lifelong companions: “In the quiet company of books, one finds the loudest call to action. Let reading be your lifelong companion—it never betrays, only enlightens.”

Underlining the broader implications of reading for national development, he stated, “To read is to rise; to rise is to reform; to reform is to build a better nation.”

Known as the youngest living legend of Mithila, Dr Jha has been a vanguard of educational reform and skill-based learning for around three decades. Through British Lingua, his pioneering institution, he has empowered millions of learners with the tools of English proficiency, communication skills, and self-confidence.

As the seminar concluded, participants took a solemn pledge to develop regular reading habits. In a significant development, inspired by Dr Jha’s vision, students announced the launch of a nationwide initiative—the ‘Read for India Campaign’—aimed at fostering a culture of reading as a catalyst for personal and national transformation.

The event concluded on a high note, with a renewed sense of purpose and a collective resolve to build a more literate, thoughtful, and progressive India—one book at a time