Mumbai, 14 October, 2026: In a world where screens increasingly compete for a child’s attention, nurturing a love for reading has become more important than ever. Beyond words on a page, books open up worlds of imagination, curiosity and learning, making reading a habit that can shape a child’s future in lasting ways. Exploring this thought, neOwn, India’s first app-based children’s book rental platform, introduced its new neOwn Reading SIP, an auto-renewal monthly book borrowing plan, while bringing together acclaimed author Amish Tripathi, Dr. Swati Popat Vats, President, Podar Education Network, and neOwn Founder Kranti Gada for a panel discussion titled ‘Your Child’s Reading Habit – Your Highest-Return Investment’. The discussion took place at Finland International School, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.
The discussion explored how reading goes beyond academic learning to nurture critical thinking, communication, imagination, creativity and empathy. While digital platforms and AI offer instant access to information, books encourage children to engage deeply with ideas, form independent perspectives and develop skills that benefit them throughout life.
The panelists highlighted how consistent reading builds vocabulary, grammar, fluency, writing and speaking skills, alongside confidence and curiosity. These abilities develop over time, making reading an investment whose returns extend well beyond immediate academic outcomes.
Emphasising the long-term value of reading, Kranti Gada, Founder, neOwn, said, “Reading offers so much more than knowledge; it nurtures creativity, imagination, empathy, vocabulary, fluency, perspective and confidence. These are capabilities that shape how they think, make decisions, solve problems and navigate life as they grow. That is what makes reading such a valuable investment parents can make in their children, and it begins with us, as parents, embracing reading ourselves.”
Author Amish Tripathi said, “Reading is the best investment you can make for your child’s future. Through stories, we can teach children how to deal with failure, find the courage to take risks and rise again after setbacks. The value of reading goes beyond entertainment to help shape how children think, respond to challenges and navigate life.”
Dr. Swati Popat Vats, President, Podar Education Network, said, “I believe reading is an important investment in a child and it is not merely a child’s responsibility but also, equally the parents’ responsibility to introduce them to the world of books, imagination and ideas. Reading goes beyond developing literacy. It is rooted in neuroscience, culture and parenting, and helps us understand our children better.”
Founded in 2023 by Kranti Gada, neOwn is India’s first app-based children’s book library, operating out of Mumbai, with 15,000+ active subscribers and 25,000+ families served nationwide. It offers 75,000+ physical books from leading publishers like Scholastic, HarperCollins, Penguin and Hachette, across genres from fantasy and mystery to comics and non-fiction, for ages 0–14, with a special focus on Indian authors.
The event reinforced a simple message: nurturing a reading habit is an investment in a child’s ability to think, imagine, communicate and navigate an increasingly complex world.
