Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Pustakalaya is a one-room library that was established almost nine months ago by daily-wage labourers of Ludhiana’s factories. It is a one-room island of hope for the children of the workers.
The children call this place ‘shiksha ka inquilab’, meaning the education revolution. On the faded walls, with bits of plaster peeling off, are posters of Bhagat Singh and Maxim Gorky. There’s a board outside that reads, ‘Behtar zindagi ka raasta behtar kitaabon se hokar jaata hai’ (the road to a good life is through good books.)
Set up by the Karkhana Mazdoor Union, the library was built on individual contributions ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000.
We have got no help from the government. This library was set up from the funds by workers. Workers contributed from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000 to set up this library. They wanted a library where they and their children can come and read. This library was set up 8-9 months back and both workers and their children come here and issue books.Krishan Kumar, Teacher, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Pustakalaya
The library caters to children of labourers for whom the books in the library is a way to break the shackles of society; by studying the ideas, thoughts, stories, poems among others. With over 500 books in Hindi and Punjab, the children can take home two books at a time for an annual fee of Rs 50.
We love to come to this library because what we learn is better than schools. We get the opportunity to read books on a wide variety of topics and we are taught here for free.Khushi, Student
Not just the children, even the labourers who have contributed towards setting up this library, come here to read. Most of them are school dropouts but encourage their children to study.
(With inputs from ANI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)