‘Should be in every city and village:’ Social activist Yogendra Yadav praises the grassroots initiative of micro-libraries
Team Clarion
MUMBAI — Renowned social and political activist, Yogendra Yadav, recently visited the historic city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra and was introduced to the “Maryam Mirza Children’s Mohalla Library,” an innovative project spearheaded by a young student, Maryam Mirza. Impressed by the library, Yadav expressed admiration for the initiative and emphasised that such community-driven libraries should be established in every city and village across the country.
Yadav, accompanied by colleagues including Prof Ajit Jha, lauded the simplicity and effectiveness of the micro-library model. “This experience of micro-funding and micro-libraries is invaluable,” Yadav noted. He further elaborated on how the library, which started with just a modest investment of ₹5,000 for a bookshelf and ₹10,000 for books, is an affordable yet powerful tool to promote education and knowledge-sharing. Yadav emphasised the potential for such small-scale initiatives to make a significant impact on literacy and education nationwide.
Prof Jha, who travelled with Yadav from Delhi, echoed his sentiments. “If we want to keep large libraries alive, we must start with small ones,” he remarked, stressing the importance of grassroots movements in supporting the future of education. Both Yadav and Jha applauded Maryam Mirza for her efforts in setting up this unique project.
Nishat Mirza, a founder member and a key supporter of the initiative, provided additional insights into the various programs being undertaken by the library. He described how the project aims to foster a love for reading among children and build a culture of learning within the community.
The “Mohalla Library” project, launched in January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the brainchild of Maryam Mirza and her father, Mirza Abdul Qayyum Nadvi, who is also the president of the Read and Lead Foundation. At that time, Maryam was a seventh-grade student at Iqra Urdu Girls High School. Encouraged by her father, Maryam established the first library at their home in Aurangabad’s Baijipura neighbourhood. Her vision was simple but powerful: to cultivate a passion for reading among her peers by making books accessible within her area.
The success of Maryam’s initiative has been nothing short of remarkable. The project has expanded to include 36 libraries in Aurangabad, 15 in Parbhani, and 5 in Burhanpur, touching the lives of children across the region. With the motto, “You give me ₹15,000, I will give you a library,” Maryam has successfully spread her mission to communities that need it the most.
For her pioneering efforts, Maryam Mirza has received widespread recognition and several awards, including honours from the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin and the prestigious Lokmat Mukta Sanman Award.
Through her initiative, Maryam has demonstrated the power of youth-driven social change, showing how a small but determined effort can inspire an entire movement for education. Her work stands as a model for grassroots development and community engagement, providing hope and inspiration to others who aspire to make a difference in society.