The Raja’s Library

The Ganesh Mandal has been undertaking various forms of social work for many years now,including offering people monetary aid and helping earthquake victims of Latur.

The library,better known as the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Library & Reference Book Bank,has over 40,000 members and 60,000 books. “The prices of the books required for habitual readers and for those in higher studies are so expensive that many cannot afford these books. Due to this,many students give up studies and many book-lovers are deprived of reading,” says Satish Khankar,president of the mandal.

Apart from thousands of fiction titles in English and Hindi,the library offers books related to Union Pubic Service Commission and Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC),banking,computer and various entrance exams. The library is not only modern in looks,but is also computerised. For example,every book is bar-coded and so is the identity card issued to the students. This helps to maintain a record of not only the book,but also of the person who uses the book. “To enroll for this service,the applicant just has to just submit copies of his ration card,” adds Sudhir Salvi,secretary of the mandal

The library also has close circuit cameras installed that are monitored in a special monitoring room. “Whenever we find anyone doing mischief in the reading hall,we come to know about it through the cameras and he is asked to leave the hall,” says a volunteer.

Apart from running the library,the trust also gives educational material (text books and reference books) to needy students ranging from Grade IX to engineering and medical,after thorough verification. “After the end of the year,the students have to return the books to us and get fresh books for the next academic year,” adds Khankar.

From October this year,the library also plans to start classes to train students for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exams. English speaking and personality development courses have also been planned. “After the Ganesh festival,we would be starting these courses,” said Bala Khankar,president.

“The library is very rich in books and so is the reading hall,” says Sneha Patel (18),a resident of Kalachowkie. Echoes Sunil Godse (18),a BSc IT student,“The services offered are like a private library,but they don’t charge a single penny.”