Champion of Reading – Literacy Advocate
For Building a Culture of Reading
The Award Is Named After
Champion of Reading – Literacy Advocate
Educator & Lifelong Advocate for the Reading Child
In an age of noise and novelty, Snehlata Ji remained quietly devoted to the most powerful idea of all, that a single book can change a life.
A graduate in Sanskrit, she held language not just as a subject, but as a sacred thread connecting minds, hearts, and generations. In 1971, she joined her husband at The English Book Depot, Dehradun, one of India’s oldest bookstores, and together, they transformed it into something more than a shop: a space where stories found their readers and readers found themselves.
After her husband’s passing in 1989, Snehlata Ji took over the mantle of the bookstore with grace and quiet resolve. For the next five decades, she stood behind the counter, not just selling books, but sowing a lifelong love of reading in children, parents, teachers, and travellers alike. Her warm recommendations, her quiet presence, and her deep knowledge made The English Book Depot not just a business, but a beacon.
Under her care, the bookstore became a sanctuary. Children came in wide eyed, teachers found rare texts, and generations returned with their own children because the space remembered them, and so did she.
The Snehlata Prize for Building a Culture of Reading honours this remarkable legacy. It celebrates those who, like her, know that real change does not always come from policy or podiums. Sometimes, it comes from a woman behind a counter, handing you the right book at the right time.
Snehlata Ji did not just preserve the culture of reading, she embodied it. Through this award, her spirit will continue to turn pages in the lives of many more.
Purpose of the Award
Snehlata Ji believed that a love for reading is the foundation of lifelong learning. Her conviction was simple: when children discover the joy of books, they unlock a world of curiosity, imagination, and growth.
The Snehlata Prize for Building a Culture of Reading honours educators who share her belief and have dedicated themselves to nurturing vibrant reading cultures within their schools and communities.
It recognises those who have made reading an integral part of everyday learning, creating environments where books are celebrated, stories are shared, and a lifelong love of reading is inspired in every child.
2025 Recipient
Snehlata Prize – 2025
Festival Director & Co-Founder, Bookaroo
Swati Roy has devoted her life to fostering a love of reading among children and creating meaningful connections between young minds and the world of books. As the Co Founder and Festival Director of Bookaroo, India’s largest children’s literature festival, she has inspired generations of readers through experiences that celebrate stories, imagination, and learning.
Under her leadership, Bookaroo has grown into far more than a literary festival. It has become a nationwide movement that has transformed the way children, parents, educators, and communities engage with reading and storytelling.
Through her vision and unwavering commitment, Swati Roy has helped make books more accessible, reading more joyful, and literature an integral part of childhood. Her work continues to encourage young readers to explore, question, dream, and discover the endless possibilities that books can offer.
Jury Citation
“Swati Roy has done something remarkable: she has made reading feel like a celebration. The Snehlata Prize honours a champion who has expanded the universe of Indian children by filling it with books, stories, and the irreplaceable joy of a child who has fallen in love with reading.”
– ScooNews Memorial Awards Jury, 2025
Gallery
Moments from the inaugural ScooNews Memorial Awards at Global Ed-Fest 2025, Jaipur.
2026 Nominations Open
Nominate an educator who has built a genuine culture of reading – someone who has helped children fall in love with books.