Spreading knowledge in the slums

AHMEDABAD, NOV 23: Hens clucking along narrow, stinking dirt-filled paths, tiny tin-roofed shanties that pass off for houses -- this is t...

AHMEDABAD, NOV 23: Hens clucking along narrow, stinking dirt-filled paths, tiny tin-roofed shanties that pass off for houses 8212; this is the last place one would expect to find a library; and that too one run by a 14-year-old. The slums of Juhapura area in Ahmedabad houses a very determined youngster who not only wants to rise above his immediate surroundings, but also wants to help a few others better their stature in society.

Salim Vohra has been running this library in the slums of Juhapura since January this year. In, what can be termed a curious twist of fate, Salim8217;s pet passion 8212; making toys from waste material8211; led him to starting this library. Around last year, Salim was invited by a Lond-based organisation to teach children there the art of making paper toys from waste.

His visit to a library while in London, left a lasting impression on Salim8217;s mind. 8220;After returning, Sarjan 8212; a voluntary body active in the area 8212; asked me what I learnt there and all I could think of was the library. So they helped me to start it here,8221; Salim explains.

Today, Salim8217;s library boasts of a collection of 500 books in English, Hindi and Gujarati. All these books have been donated by various organisations and individuals.

A nominal fee of Rs 2 per month is charged from the children who come to the library and read and Rs 5 is charged from those whose want to take the books home. There are books on a variety of topics 8212; from fairy tales, religion, art and painting to folk tales.

Today, at least 14-15 children from the slums in the area come to borrow books from the library. Not satisfied with providing them with books to read, Salim wanted to gauge the effect it had on the readers. So he now provides them with response forms, which provides an insight into the impact the books have on their impressionable minds.

Ghachi Hussain a Std VII student and a regular to the library, wrote in his response form that reading made him realise that quot;stealing was a sin and ultimately the thief has to pay for his bad deedsquot;. Another library goer, Yusuf Ahmed8217;s form read, 8220;After reading a story, I came to know that we must take care of old people and respect them.8221;

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A hesitant Sabir Ahmed said, 8220;I had doubts whether I8217;ll be able to read or not but I was delighted when I could read a whole story on my own.8221;

The children devour the Hindi and Gujarati books while in English books, it8217;s only the colourful photographs that they can grasp as of now.