For nine years, retired Subedar Major N. Satyanarayanan has been opening the public library at Cheran Ma Nagar. He keeps it open for three hours in the morning and then again for two hours in the evenings. It is 4 pm and there is a pleasant smell of freshly painted walls and books. Satyanarayanan says the last few months have been extra pleasureable because of the facelift the library has got.
The revival is thanks to Jaya Neil, the founder of Sanskruthi Pre-School and the founder- trustee of Sanskruthi Foundation that works for the upliftment of underprivilaged children.“I have worked with kids for the past 17 years. I know how much they love to look at pictures and read stories. I want every child irrespective of their background to have access to age-appropriate books and hence this initiative.” says Jaya.
Jaya Neil
Jaya’s life changed after her daughter moved to Bengaluru in 2015 for her studies. “Suddenly there was something missing in my life. So I looked for things to do. I began teaching the children of Corporation workers in my locality.” It was a neighbour who put Jaya up to reviving the library.“I did not even know about it though it was barely 500 metres away from my pre-school,” exclaims Jaya who then went to see the place. “The surrounding area of the library was overgrown with shrubs and strewn with garbage and empty liquor bottles. But, inside there were around 1000 books and I felt that with a little effort, I could give it a new look.”
Jaya got help from the Corporation workers to clear the weeds. “They were parents of the children that I teach. It was a lot of work, but very fulfilling.” A week later, NSS volunteers from a nearby school also helped her arrange the books and catalogue them. “We first dusted and cleaned the shelves before we segregated the books into different genres. Most of them were in good shape. Those that were infested with termites had to be discarded. There was also a huge collection of old college and school textbooks.” Jaya says they cleared six loads of garbage from the library compound. Then the ground was levelled with eight loads of soil. “We planted a few trees and painted the library.” The library’s compound wall now sports colourful paintings of fairy tale characters as well as children reading. Jaya hopes the new, colourful facelift will attract children to the library.
What of the books? In the last five months, Jaya has gone about collecting children’s books.“Most of the books that I bought are second hand. I got suggestions from online reading communities on books to buy and my daughter also pitched in.” Jaya has so far bought around 800 books for ₹30000. She is happy that other people, having come to know of her project have donated funds with which she plans to build a toilet and install benches in the compound. She says, “There will be a garden in front and I hope to conduct story telling and activity sessions here for kids soon.”
Those who wish to contribute books to the library or conduct sessions for kids can call Jaya at 9244407759
