Libraries in Punjab villages usher in in a silent revolution

The library in Lopon, developed in 2016 by US-basedNRI Baldev Singh Dhaliwal on his agricultural land spanning 500 square yards, has become a source of inspiration for many. It fosters a culture of reading and learning in the village. The library is part of the six established under the Mera Pind 360 Degree project by NRIs and Punjab residents in different villages across the state. “Dhaliwal manages this library with his own funds, and the facility is free for readers,” said Malhan Lal Garg, a retired superintending engineer from the irrigation department.

Garg, who started a library in Maur Kalan village in Bathinda district in 2015 under the same project, said, “The Maur Kalan library is managed by the Maur Educational Welfare Society. Though I now reside in Chandigarh, I make it a point to visit all six libraries once a fortnight. The others are in Balloh (Bathinda), Kot Arayian (Jalandhar), Bassi Gujjran (Ropar), and Machhiwara (Ludhiana). We also offer free computer training and plan to start English-speaking courses soon. The aim is to bridge the rural-urban education gap and encourage children to pursue studies.”

While such libraries, run by individuals and organisations, have been around for some time, the trend of setting up reading rooms and libraries in Punjab’s villages has seen a significant rise over the past two years. These spaces are particularly popular among students preparing for government jobs.

In Bhutal Kalan, a quiet village in Sangrur district, two libraries were established in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown. One library is dedicated to boys and operates within a gaushala (cow shelter), while the other is for girls and is housed in a gurdwara.

“The gaushala library has been a boon for the villagers. In the past three years, over 20 boys from Bhutal Kalan and nearby areas have secured government jobs. One of the boys is now preparing for the UPSC while completing his graduation,” said Raghbir Singh, who recently became a librarian in a government school.

Simarjit Singh, a library user, added, “The boys’ library has a double bed and mattresses, allowing students to study and sleep there, especially during summer. Those working during the day often study at night as the air-conditioned facility provides a comfortable environment.”

The library offers a mix of competitive exam books, including resources for state and central government job exams, as well as UPSC. A flex board at the entrance displays photos of students who have secured jobs, mostly in teaching, the army, Punjab Police, and clerical roles.

Named the Sant Narayan Giri Library, it was inaugurated in 2020 by Parminder Singh Dhindsa, the then Lehragaga MLA.

As villagers were initially reluctant to let girls use the gaushala library, they dedicated a hall in the village gurdwara exclusively for a girls’ library. This library remains open all week. Sonika Sharma, a regular visitor, said, “I am preparing for undergraduate exams and aim to clear any government sector exam after completing my graduation. A government job is essential, especially for girls, to ensure financial security. I am particularly focused on teaching jobs.”

Varinder Diwana, a resident of Diwana village and a passionate book lover, has been running a library in his village in Barnala district for over 12 years. He said, “There are around 200 private rural libraries in Punjab that receive books from Punjabi Sahit Sabha in Delhi. They provide Punjabi literature books worth Rs 10,000 annually to promote the Punjabi language and literature. These libraries are mostly managed by villagers through voluntary donations, and sometimes a nominal fee is charged as an annual membership for students.”

The story doesn’t end here, as the Punjab government is also stepping in to promote rural libraries. Many old rural buildings are being renovated into libraries by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Minister Tarunjeet Singh Sond stated last month that the government has so far renovated 114 rural libraries, with another 179 projects in the pipeline.

Karandi, a village in Mansa district located at Punjab’s border with Haryana, is one such example. In September last year, the dilapidated village panchayat building was renovated into a library following demands from the villagers. “Students in the village wanted a library, so the panchayat building was renovated. Earlier, they had to rely on a private reading room in the village that charged a monthly fee. This government facility now provides them with a free alternative,” said Mansa Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh.

The library, however, was the brainchild of the previous Deputy Commissioner, Paramveer. According to Sardulgarh SDM, over 50 students from the village use the facility regularly, even on weekdays.

Nitesh Kumar Jain said, “The library also has a discussion area and a space for unwinding. We are now planning to build a badminton court outside so that students can play during breaks.” He added, “Around Rs 35 lakh was spent on its renovation, with funds sourced partly from the 15th Finance Commission and partly from the panchayat’s income funds.”

In Mansa city, a youth library has been established by the district administration and the Red Cross, challenging the stereotype that Punjabis are not avid readers. Vishavdeep Singh, a resident of Mansa, said, “The previous Deputy Commissioner, Paramveer, initiated seven such libraries in the district in the past year. He had also started around eight libraries in Bathinda when he served as Additional Deputy Commissioner there.”

Bathinda is home to a large public and digital library inaugurated in 2021 by the then finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, as it was his brainchild.

Fazilka, a border town, has five libraries under the Kitaab project initiated by the district administration. In addition, Fazilka has several private reading rooms, popular among villagers preparing for teaching eligibility tests. These reading rooms operate 24/7, with monthly charges ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 600. Similar facilities can be found in Mansa, Sangrur, Barnala, and other districts.

Makhan Lal Garg, who leads the Punjab Library Movement to promote reading habits and increase library numbers across the state, said, “The rise in libraries is a positive sign, but we need qualified librarians instead of caretakers earning Rs 5,000–10,000 per month. Public libraries lack professional librarians, and the government needs to address this issue rather than focusing solely on renovating buildings.”

He added, “There is also a need to open more libraries in urban areas or improve the condition of existing ones. While rural students are making commendable efforts to crack competitive exams, as seen in the case of Manpreet Sharma, who cleared the UPSC, urban areas must not be overlooked.”

Some villages in Punjab also operate libraries on wheels, sponsored by NRIs, private schools, or philanthropists. In Ludhiana, Drishti Dr. R.C. Jain Innovative Public School runs a weekly library-on-wheels project in Narangwal village, where students and teachers engage in community service.

“If the Punjab Library Act, pending since 2011, is passed by the Punjab government, the state could establish libraries on the lines of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with 70% of funding from the central government,” Garg said.