States » WestPosted at: Sep 17 2026 4:05PM


Balbharati’s 60-year educational journey honoured at Pune Festival

Pune, Sep 17 (UNI) The Pune Festival on Thursday honoured the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, popularly known as Balbharati, for completing 60 years of its contribution to the state’s educational and cultural development.
Balbharati Director Anuradha Oak was felicitated by Pune Festival president Krishnakumar Goel with a memento, shawl and coconut.
Speaking on the occasion, Oak said Balbharati was established following the Kothari Commission’s recommendation that each state should have an independent institution for textbook production.
The organisation has completed 60 years and produces more than 10 crore textbooks in 10 languages, she said.
This year, Balbharati has undertaken the publication of textbooks for four standards in a single year, Oak said. The organisation was also focusing on the use of modern media for the dissemination and distribution of books, she added.
Oak said increasing screen time among children had affected their reading habits and stressed the need to promote a reading culture among students.
She said the Kishor magazine was being made available at an affordable price despite operating at a loss, with the aim of encouraging reading among children.
She said Balbharati was undertaking efforts not only in textbook production but also in promoting reading habits. Oak also appealed to citizens of Pune to support efforts to preserve Balbharati’s strategically located premises.
Balbharati was established on January 27, 1967, and produces and distributes school textbooks in several languages, including Marathi, English, Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, Telugu, Sindhi and Gujarati.
Goel said the Pune Festival also recognised individuals and institutions for their contributions in addition to promoting art and culture.
He said the felicitation represented the contribution of Balbharati’s employees over the years.
Senior thinker Ulhas Pawar said Balbharati had provided quality textbooks in several languages and called for greater government support to the institution. He also highlighted its role in taking books to students in rural areas.
On the occasion, Kishor magazine editor Kiran Kendre was felicitated by the Pune Festival, while Pawar was felicitated by Balbharati. Trustee Mohan Tillu said efforts would be made to pursue the issue of staff shortage at Balbharati with Minister Chandrakant Patil.
Tanmayee Mehendale-Kulkarni presented the Ganesh prayer Vatapi Ganapati in Raga Hansadhwani at the beginning of the programme. UNI SP SAS
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