He refurbished his motor pump room into a library

Strap: The man behind ‘Library on Wheels’ again comes up with a unique initiative

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 16

Ever seen a library in a motor pump house? Well Mandeep Singh, the one who launched campaigns such as ‘Kitaban Wali Gaddi’ (Library on wheels) to ‘Tera Tera Library’, has again took it upon himself to come up with one such unique initiative to encourage the habit of reading among masses.

When he failed to get any government help or a private space to set-up a library, he didn’t lose hope and instead started looked for alternatives. What he came up with is entirely different from a regular library. What’s unusual about the place is that it is located at the centre of fields in Jabbowal village in Sultanpur Lodhi. The library has over 350 books.

“I was sure of opening a book spot in the village, but didn’t know how. One day, I was sitting in the motor house, just when a random thought of setting up a library here crossed my mind. I got it renovated. It took me and my team around two months to install book shelves, paint the motor house with quotes, place books in it, increase the green cover around it and convert it into a good sitting place. Now, the motor house has been renamed as ‘Tera Tera Library’, said Mandeep, who works as a lineman with the Punjab State Power Corporation limited.

The books kept in the library are in four different languages, including: Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi. From literature of 1980s to books on IELTS, one can find a variety of books here. For students, in the village, there are textbooks, ATLAS, GK and others. Books on various topics are also kept for those who are preparing for competitive exams. Apart from that, the library also houses several religious books.

Notably, to collect books for his library, he circulated ‘Pind di library layi kitaba di madad kro ji’ poster. The poster was widely shared by the Pollywood celebrities too, which helped him get hundreds of books from various authors. Mandeep also urges locals to come forward in large numbers to donate the books. The library opens at 5 in the morning and closes at 8 pm.