Community Libraries Driving SDGs
People Partnerships and Prosperity with Community Leaders; visionaries and legends to serve people of their villages to learn and grow! The two libraries of READ India, in partnership with leaders of the community in Rampura village near Srirangapatnam in Mysore and...
My initial time with READ India: Memories of June 2008
Hello everyone! How are you? I have decided to share my memories! My memories are more and less the memories of my organization I have been working with from the past 13 years. My colleagues are somehow my second family and I see the growth of my office as the growth...
Passion In Action
History, Culture and ethnicity vs today’s life pattern and needs.. Muradgarhi is a village in which Rajputs are staying. The history says that the Rajputs are fearless, courageous and adventurous. They fought many battles of wars and they do not accept defeat. They...
Women can change the world if given the right platform : Mahila Saksham Samman
Women can change the world if given the right platform : Mahila Saksham Samman It’s almost 16 years travelling rural libraries and meeting with communities sharing their joy and sorrows with me. I am so humbled to give them the space to share freely as providing an...
Empower Educate and Enhance the skills of rural communities is the way forward for development
he education of girls and women is the backbone of any development which we envision in this country and we must address this with inclusive approach. Inclusive means All, without any bias of any aspect, colour, creed, caste, costume, capacity etc. 4 Es Formula: With...
Young girls breaking the barriers and realizing their own dreams
I remember, in 2012, I visited Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, exploring the possibility of setting up a Community Library and Resource Center as per READ India model. We needed a space in the village. We came across a couple who was running a middle-level school in...
Literacy and Education: Way Forward towards Empowerment
READ Model is such a convincing model. Whosoever understands well and is interested to give back to the community to whom he belongs comes forward to adapt and partner with READ India. Mr Asif Ali, the then Sarpanch of village Chainnsa visited my house with one of my...
Geejgarh Gyan Kendra: READ India Community Library and Resource Center
Geejgarh is a hamlet in Dausa district surrounded by 53 hamlets. Very interesting site to visit! It’s a valley surrounded by high mountain on one side. I remember, my first visit to Geejgarh, very warm welcome by the villagers, having their roots in Geejgarh. Though...
Culture makes the Difference: READ India’s Second Library
Hi everyone! READ India provided me many opportunities to study different cultures, be with them and develop a common understanding for Education and Development of the local communities through Community Library and Resource Centers. From West Bengal to Manipur, a...
Engaging Learning and transforming their own lives
Dwarka, the second biggest district of Asia, in New Delhi. is named after the legendary Dwarika Kingdom. Gurugram is very close. Dwarka Sector 21 metro station connects to the Connaught Place area in 10 minutes through Airport Express Line. Dwarka has small villages...
Giving is a good deed forever!
I remember while Tina Sciabica, the then Executive Director, READ Global, came to India from USA, Dr Praveen Agarwal, the Advisory Board member of READ India arranged a luncheon meeting with Mr Darshan Singh, Founder, Socio Demographic Society (SOS), based in Gurgaon,...
Giving back to the roots: Dedication of 100 years old Haveli for READ library
I remember, Dr Y Suresh Reddy, Director of Shriram Foundation introduced me to Mr. R S Dalal, IPS, former Director General-Police, Haryana. I invited him on the inauguration of the READ Library in Chainnsa, Hathin Block, Palwal, Haryana. He was so convinced by the...
Holi the festival of Colours, Happiness and Togetherness
The life is a big teacher, we sometimes do not realise what it is teaching us. We take everything for granted as the Sun, Moon, Air, Water…….. The reality is different. Our ancestors practiced barter system for their survival. We have forgotten as we have now the...
Reducing the rural-urban gaps by creating conducive environment for holistic development
Muradgarhi village of Jewar, Greater Noida, adjacent to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development, is a village selected by READ India to establish Community Library and Resource Centre. Before establishing the READ Centre, I visited the village with my colleagues...
Libraries as an integral part of the rural reconstruction programme
Mid-nineties I visited Santiniketan with my family and my fond memories of visiting the craft mela revived when I visited on 19th February 2022 again to have a meeting with Surul Swastha Samiti, established in 1934 on the values inculcated from the mission initiated...
Libraries in their new role : Case Study of READ India libraries
Tough times don’t last, tough people do… This quote is very true in the current times of COVID 19 crisis that has impacted each one of us personally, professionally, economically and socially. The whole community is shattered. This pandemic hit the human beings, thus...
International Women’s Day : 8th March 2022
Its great to have one day specially marked on the calendar to wish every woman all the best. We all do. The real wishes come from the heart when you are in touch with so many women who reside in the rural areas and you are talking to them, thanks to the technology,...