In a heartwarming gesture that blends celebration with social responsibility, a wedding invitation from Kalaburagi has drawn widespread appreciation for its meaningful message -“Please gift only books”.
The initiative, aimed at strengthening government school libraries and encouraging the culture of reading among students, turns a personal celebration into a purposeful social campaign.
The wedding, scheduled for November 17, 2025, is of a young doctor whose family has chosen to mark the occasion by spreading the joy of learning.
The bridegroom’s father, Anandteerth V. Joshi, a retired employee of the Education Department, conceived the idea and shared it with the owner of Vasavi Offset Printers, who guided him in designing an inspiring invitation urging guests to join for “Book Donation Drive”.
Mr. Joshi, who has 39 years of service in the Education Department and retired recently, told The Hindu that he always tried to introduce small but meaningful reforms in the department during his tenure.
Explaining the thought behind the initiative, Mr. Joshi said that his goal is to strengthen government school libraries and assist students preparing for the SSLC examinations. He has already compiled a list of 35 study volumes to be donated to eight government schools in the district.
“Though it is a very negligible contribution, it may inspire others to donate things genuinely needed by students,” he said.
To make the idea practical, Mr. Joshi has arranged a bookstall worth ₹1 lakh at the wedding venue, where guests can purchase and gift books relevant to school curriculum. Any unsold books, he assured, will be bought by him and added to the donation pool.
Published – November 12, 2025 09:56 pm IST
