A library in a village in Howrah that shut down in the mid-1980s has been revived.

For years the library was being used as a storehouse during festivals and public events in the village. An NGO that works in the village with children from underprivileged families reopened the library last week.

Dhumda Bhupati Smriti Granthagar at Raynagar in Bagnan was established in 1971 by three friends, Bijay Kumar Patra, Dulal Chandra Ponda and Shrikanta Manna.

A group of women from the village at the library last week. The Telegraph

Patra died a few years back. He used to work in a steel company. Both Ponda and Manna were primary school teachers.

The library ran for a little more than 10 years before it was shut down.

“We had wanted the library to get some government sponsorship but we couldn’t manage it. With our other responsibilities, we could not sustain the library and it had to be shut,” said Ponda, 87.

On Saturday, Ponda was present during the opening of the library.

“We could not run the library but it would make us happy if others can manage it,” said Ponda.

Unlike most libraries, this one will not have a membership fee, at least initially.

The main objective is to invite women of the village to come to the library and read.

“We want people to come and read books, especially women. There are many mothers in our village who can read but they do not have access to books. We want to provide that access,” said Tanmoy Patra, founder, Howrah Vivekananda Siksha Kendra, the NGO that opened the library.

The NGO also supports the education and nutrition of 160 children.

“My father was one of the founders of the library. For years the library was used as a storeroom during festivals. That has changed now, we are keeping books that
adults would want to read. Many of them are not used to reading and if we give them fat books they will not be keen... So some books are abridged versions or short stories,” said Patra.

According to Patra, many villagers were interested in opening the library but nothing significant could be done because of a lack of people.

“Three of our senior students from our NGO have been given the responsibility to run the library. I believe the students will perform their duties sincerely,” Patra said.

For now, the library will remain open every Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 6pm.

It will be managed by college students Nisha Manna and Sumana Pal, along with Nabanita Bairagi, a student of Class X.