Bhisi's Magic Book Club gets state government's Vachan Prerna Samman 2026

The Magic Book Club in Bhisi in Chandrapur district has been given the Maharashtra government's "Vachan Prerna Samman 2026". The club is an initiative of the Bright Age Foundation, which works in Bhisi. The organisation works to build a reading habit among students in villages, remote areas and backward regions. The club was honoured for this work.

The event was held at the Government Law College in Mumbai. It was organised by the Directorate of Languages and the Marathi Language Department, on the occasion of Vachan Prerna Din and the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule bicentenary celebrations.

Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Sachin Ahir, Marathi Language and Industries Minister Dr Uday Samant, Secretary Dr Kiran Kulkarni and Director of Languages Arun Gite were present. Yashoda Kokila Shesherao Jambhule, convener of the Magic Book Club, accepted the award on behalf of the Bright Age organisation. The award comprises a citation, a cheque and books.

According to the organisation, the initiative began seven years ago with just four readers. Today more than 300 readers are associated with it. Reading and discussion sessions have so far been held on more than 110 books.

The organisation has given books, cupboards and financial help worth more than Rs 1 lakh to a number of libraries in Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Nagpur districts. Through the "Magic Academy", students from tribal and deprived communities get free guidance for competitive examinations, along with lodging and food.

More than 4,000 students have benefited from the initiative. Of them, more than 125 have reached government service and well-known universities. The organisation's president, Shrikant Ekude, said the prize money would be used to buy new books.