Storytime with Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 18/04/2026

What if one story could change a child’s life? Across India, many children are still waiting to discover the joy of reading. The Turning Pages Foundation is working to change that through its India Reads Aloud initiative. They collaborate with famous personalities to capture a child’s imagination through storytelling. In a recent episode, Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand joined this initiative by narrating a story for young listeners. Read on to discover how this idea is creating a lasting impact. Photos: Turning Pages Foundation

The movement bringing reading to every child

Close your eyes and think back. Do you remember the first story someone read to you? Maybe your mother. Maybe your grandmother. Maybe a teacher. That feeling of being transported to another world is what every child enjoys. But many children have never felt that. They have never held a colourful storybook. This is the gap that the Turning Pages Foundation is trying to fill. They are helping underprivileged children across India discover the joy of books.

The inspiration behind the initiative comes from a personal story. Prajwal, the son of an auto-rickshaw driver, had very little exposure to books growing up. He joined the "Turning Pages Foundation" programme and through shared reading sessions, storytelling, and school activities, he slowly stepped into a new world. A defining moment came during a “book talk,” where Prajwal stood in front of his classmates and his parents and confidently shared his thoughts on his favourite books. Today, he reads independently, loves books about computers, and dreams of becoming an engineer. As his mother shares, the programme “lit a fire” in him.

India Reads Aloud has launched many episodes in different languages.

In November 2024, this vision expanded into something larger: the launch of India Reads Aloud, a free online initiative of the foundation. The idea was to bring high-quality storytelling into every home and classroom through the power of the internet. Research says that reading aloud to children in their early years is one of the most effective ways to help them fall in love with books. It builds imagination, strengthens comprehension, and develops emotional intelligence. That's why, with this initiative, children with access to a screen can listen to any story they like.

While reading is essential for every child, access is not equal. Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds often lack exposure to books, libraries, and reading environments. Turning Pages Foundation focuses on bridging this gap by working within schools. They conduct weekly book reading sessions, organise events like author visits and poetry week, book bazaars and annual celebrations.

Creating spaces where children can discover the joy of reading together.

Every session opens a new world for these young readers.

This initiative was launched in February this year and many educators, schools, and individuals from various fields have come forward to support the initiative. One of the most interesting aspects of this initiative is the involvement of role models. When famous personalities read stories, it sends a message that books matter. So far, the team has collaborated with author Shashi Tharoor, actress Sharmila Tagore and many more. A few days ago, the India Reads Aloud team collaborated with Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand. Seeing him engage with storytelling will create a powerful impression on young minds!

Check out the video below featuring Viswanathan Anand and Aruna Anand reading a story.