International Literacy Day: Empowering minds, enriching nations
Heramba Nath
International observances are often regarded as symbolic occasions, marked by speeches, campaigns, and awareness programmes. Yet, there are some days in the global calendar that reach deeper into the conscience of humanity, reminding us of the very foundations upon which human dignity and social progress are built. International Literacy Day, commemorated every year on the 8th of September, is one such day. Instituted by UNESCO in 1966 and observed since 1967, it calls upon nations to reflect on literacy not as a mere educational goal but as a transformative force that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and enriches nations. To be literate is not only to decipher words on a page but also to engage with the world, to interpret, to question, and to participate meaningfully in the life of society. It is the ability to claim one’s rights, to recognise one’s responsibilities, and to navigate an increasingly complex global reality.
India, with its vast population, diverse cultures, and rich civilisational legacy, stands at a crucial juncture when it comes to literacy. The nation has certainly travelled an impressive journey since the dawn of Independence, when the literacy rate was around 18 per cent, reflecting the deep scars of colonial neglect and social stratification. Today, after decades of investment in education, nationwide campaigns, and policy interventions, the literacy rate has climbed to around 77 per cent. This numerical achievement deserves recognition, yet it must also be understood that literacy is not evenly distributed, nor is it universally empowering in its current form. Large sections of the population, particularly women, marginalised communities, tribal groups, and people living in remote or underdeveloped regions, remain excluded from the full promise of literacy. The persistence of such gaps underscores that literacy is not merely a technical issue of pedagogy but also a social and moral challenge that demands sustained attention.
The significance of literacy lies in its quiet but profound power to alter human destinies. A literate person can read a medicine label, understand a bus timetable, or fill out a government form—tasks that may seem mundane to the educated but are transformative for those who acquire these skills for the first time. Literacy opens doors to employment opportunities, enables participation in democratic processes, and fosters the confidence necessary to break free from cycles of poverty and subjugation. In many rural areas of India, adult education programmes have shown how women who once felt voiceless can, through literacy, take part in village councils, demand accountability from officials, or simply read a story to their children. Such acts may appear small in the grand scheme of policy debates, but they mark a profound shift in selfhood and agency.
At the same time, in the twenty-first century, the meaning of literacy has expanded far beyond the traditional ability to read and write. UNESCO and other international agencies have emphasised the importance of digital literacy, financial literacy, environmental literacy, and health literacy as essential components of survival in a rapidly changing world. A farmer who cannot navigate an online portal may miss out on government subsidies; a young worker without financial literacy may fall into the trap of debt or exploitation; a family that lacks health literacy may struggle with misinformation about nutrition or vaccination. In each case, illiteracy becomes not merely an educational gap but a barrier to dignity, opportunity, and wellbeing. Thus, International Literacy Day today urges nations to think beyond chalk and slate, and to imagine a more holistic empowerment of citizens.
The theme chosen by UNESCO for 2025—“Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies”—captures the urgency of this expanded vision. The world is in transition, facing climate change, rapid technological disruption, shifting geopolitical orders, and economic uncertainties. Literacy in such times is no longer a luxury or even a basic skill; it is a survival necessity. A society that remains illiterate cannot adapt to changing conditions, cannot question misinformation, and cannot participate constructively in shaping its future. It is telling that regions most affected by conflict, disaster, and displacement are often those with the lowest literacy levels, creating a vicious cycle of vulnerability. Breaking this cycle requires global solidarity and national resolve, with literacy at the heart of resilience strategies.
In India, the literacy challenge is inseparable from questions of inequality. Gender disparities remain significant, with female literacy lagging behind male literacy despite decades of efforts. This disparity is not just a matter of numbers but of deep-seated social attitudes that continue to restrict educational opportunities for girls. Similarly, caste dynamics and economic stratification mean that Dalit and Adivasi communities often find themselves excluded from quality schooling. The urban-rural divide, too, remains stark: while cities offer a relatively better chance of schooling and exposure, many villages still grapple with inadequate infrastructure, poorly trained teachers, and high dropout rates. These structural imbalances reveal that literacy cannot be advanced through policy announcements alone; it requires a comprehensive transformation of society’s values and priorities.
The stories of individuals and communities who have overcome such barriers highlight both the challenge and the hope inherent in literacy. In remote tribal villages of Odisha, night schools run by volunteers have enabled young girls to read for the first time, giving them confidence to dream of careers beyond domestic confines. In urban slums, NGOs have introduced mobile libraries where children, once denied access to books, now gather eagerly to immerse themselves in stories. Adult literacy campaigns in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have enabled elderly women to sign their names, to manage savings, and to feel a sense of dignity previously denied. Each story is a reminder that literacy is not an abstract policy target but a lived experience, deeply personal and profoundly liberating.
The government of India has taken multiple initiatives in recent years to address literacy challenges. The National Literacy Mission, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and more recently, the National Education Policy 2020, all carry within them ambitions to strengthen the foundations of learning. Yet, the effectiveness of these initiatives depends not on design alone but on implementation. Teacher shortages, infrastructure deficits, poor monitoring, and lack of accountability continue to undermine progress. Equally, literacy cannot stop at primary schooling; it must be a lifelong endeavour. The world we inhabit today demands that individuals continuously adapt to new technologies, evolving economic contexts, and shifting cultural landscapes. Hence, the idea of literacy must evolve from a one-time skill acquisition to an ongoing process of learning, unlearning, and relearning.
A particularly important dimension today is digital literacy. As India aspires to become a digital economy, the exclusion of millions from digital competence risks creating a new divide as stark as illiteracy itself. E-governance, digital banking, online education, and telemedicine are transforming the landscape, but without digital literacy, many citizens remain on the margins. The same applies to financial literacy, which can protect individuals from exploitation, enable savings, and empower entrepreneurship. In the context of climate change, environmental literacy is equally urgent, as communities need to understand the importance of sustainable practices, disaster preparedness, and ecological balance. Health literacy, sharpened by the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, is critical to combating misinformation, promoting preventive care, and ensuring healthier societies. In each of these spheres, literacy extends beyond letters into life itself.
International Literacy Day, therefore, is not a symbolic observance to be ticked off the calendar, but a moment for sober introspection and renewed commitment. India must recognise that a 100 per cent literacy rate is not an unreachable utopia but an urgent necessity for the nation’s progress. The human capital of 1.4 billion people cannot be harnessed if a significant portion of the population remains unable to engage with knowledge, information, and ideas. The aspirations of becoming a global economic power, a leader in technology, or a torchbearer of democracy ring hollow if basic literacy remains denied to millions.
It is also important to underline the role of civil society, volunteers, writers, artists, and local communities in advancing literacy. Governmental machinery alone cannot accomplish this task. The passion of individuals who set up reading corners, teach in night schools, or distribute books to children often achieves results that formal policies cannot. Such grassroots efforts must be recognised, encouraged, and scaled up. In addition, the corporate sector, through responsible social initiatives, can contribute significantly by supporting libraries, digital literacy programmes, and vocational training centres. Literacy is a shared responsibility, and its advancement requires collective ownership.
On this year’s International Literacy Day, the reflection must move beyond self-congratulation on past achievements to an honest appraisal of unfinished tasks. The challenge is not only to ensure that every child goes to school but that every child learns meaningfully, that every adult denied education in youth gets a second chance, and that every citizen acquires the tools necessary to navigate a complex, digital, and fragile world. Literacy must be seen as a moral commitment of society towards its members, for without literacy, citizenship is incomplete, freedom is curtailed, and democracy is weakened.
The true power of literacy lies in its silent yet transformative ability to alter lives and societies. It does not erupt like revolutions nor command the grandeur of monumental projects, but it reshapes the human landscape quietly, steadily, and irreversibly. A literate farmer reads the weather forecast and protects his crop. A literate mother reads the instructions on a vaccination schedule and protects her child. A literate worker reads the terms of employment and protects his rights. A literate citizen reads a newspaper, understands governance, and protects democracy. Each act is a testament to the power of literacy to empower, to dignify, and to liberate.
As the world marks International Literacy Day in 2025, India must renew its pledge that no citizen should remain in darkness for want of this basic light. Every child born in this land deserves not just food and shelter but also the ability to read, to imagine, and to participate fully in the world. Every adult who was denied education in childhood deserves a second chance. Literacy is not a favour extended to the poor, the marginalised, or the forgotten; it is their right, as inalienable as the right to life and liberty. A society that denies literacy denies itself the chance to prosper, to progress, and to remain humane.