Public libraries: An idea that can transform India

If education has been recognised as the fundamental transformative force that can literally pull generations out of the clutches of poverty, why then are our libraries the most neglected of public institutions?

Just as the mid-day meal scheme of 2002 has worked wonders in drawing children to school, so too can an innovative strategy in the form of interesting, well-stocked libraries make a difference to children in rural and municipal schools in India. Libraries, not with boring and badly printed government text-books full of spelling and grammatical mistakes, but with well-illustrated, colourful and pop-up books, scientific and educational toys.

While establishing the world’s largest radio telescope near Narayangaon, Pune, radio astronomer Govind Swarup had made a visit to the nearby village school at Khodad. Everything went well till he visited the school “library”. Some new books had been kept locked in a cupboard and children were meant to admire these books through the glass door. The books were not to be touched because “they would get spoilt”.

During a visit to some municipal schools in Pune, industrialist Anu Aga was depressed with the pitiable state of the schools although they had ample space, light and ventilation. Her Thermax Foundation, which has adopted some municipal schools, is now concentrating on providing good quality education to the urban poor.

Can books make a nation? A standing example rests in the form of the United States which has given more importance to the written word and specifically to libraries than any other country. The Library of Congress in Washington, DC, has a collection of over 130 million items of intellectual property — including 29 million books — the largest of its kind. All that one requires to access this library is proof of being a minimum of 18 years old. In that sense, it is open to even criminals and illegal immigrants.

Think of the ease — or difficulty of access — to the biggest and the best public library in our own country and that would give an idea of the distance that remains to be covered.
Two on-going initiatives are worthy of mention and call for support. One is the Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation’s Magic Yeti Children’s Library project in the sherpa villages of Nepal and the other is the Gyan-Key project in rural Maharashtra.

The first Yeti library was established in 2007 by grateful American mountaineering enthusiasts at the Khumjung village school from books and funds donated by American families. More of such libraries have sprung up in the remotest of villages in Nepal. The Gyan-Key library project is not only innovative but far more inspiring as it is closer home.

Launched by rural marketing entrepreneur Pradeep Lokhande in 2008, more than 180 village school libraries now exist — each born out of individual donations of Rs5,000. Owned by the children, each Gyan-Key library has 175 books, including autobiographies, fiction, comics, music and other topics.

Specifically created for children in the 5-to-10 age group, they are managed by a girl student. Lokhande, who became a successful entrepreneur after growing up in poverty, has never forgotten his roots and is convinced of the transformative power and the impact of books on children.

So, can an idea transform India? You bet it can!