Srinagar, July 24 (KNS): In a significant move to promote environmental stewardship among the younger generation, Bisleri International, in collaboration with the National Book Trust (NBT), launched a multilingual comic book, “Chhota Bheem & Vidya – Big Green Mission,” at the Chinar Book Festival 2026 here on Friday.
The launch event was held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) and is part of Bisleri’s flagship plastic-waste recycling initiative, ‘Bottles for Change’. The comic book, available in an impressive 48 languages including all 22 scheduled Indian languages, aims to make environmental responsibility engaging and relatable for children.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Angelo George, CEO of Bisleri International, said, “At Bisleri, we believe that creating a more sustainable future begins with inspiring the next generation. Through our collaboration with the National Book Trust under our ‘Bisleri Greener Promise’ initiative, we are using the power of storytelling to make environmental responsibility engaging, relatable, and accessible for children across India.”
The event was graced by senior officials including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, and MLA Gulmarg, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah.
As part of the outreach, 20,000 copies of the comic book in English and Urdu were distributed to schools across Jammu & Kashmir.
Reading Marathon to Set Record
In a bid to encourage reading habits and physical fitness, a 5K Reading Marathon titled “Together We Read, Together We Lead” is scheduled for July 25 along the scenic banks of Dal Lake. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is expected to flag off the event, which aims to set a record in the India Book of Records (IBR) and Asia Book of Records (ABR) for the ‘Maximum Children Participating in a Marathon to Promote Reading and Environment’.
The festival also features a ‘Bottles for Change’ sustainability stall showcasing products made from recycled plastic, demonstrating the principles of a circular economy. NBT Director Yuvraj Malik highlighted the power of comics in shaping young minds, stating that the initiative aims to nurture a generation of informed and responsible citizens. (KNS)
