‘Library in a salon’: PM Modi shares stories about unique book centres across India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed the nation through 70th edition of his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, shared stories about unique libraries run by people and non-governmental oraganisations in different parts of the country.

During his programme, he spoke to one such person, Pon Mariyappan from Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi, who runs a saloon and has opened a library in one part of the saloon.

PM Modi said, “If the person reads something while waiting for his turn in the saloon, and writes a little about what he has read, Pon Mariyappan ji gives that customer a discount.”

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The Prime Minister also shared a story of Usha Dubey, a teacher from Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, who has converted her scooty into a mobile library. “Every day she goes to a village with her on-the-go library and teaches children there. This library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The parents of the neighborhood are very happy to see that their children are busy reading the book. Especially at a time when schools have also started online classes,” said PM Modi, adding that no membership is required for this library.

Modi talked about a Chandigarh-based NGO by one Sandeep Kumar, who has created a mobile library in a mini van and he provides book to poor children for free reading.

PM Modi added, “One unique institution is the ‘Book Parab’. It is an innovative project that provides free books along with literary books. This library includes books related to spiritual, Ayurvedic healing, and many other topics.”

The PM also asked people to read Tirukkuṟaḷ, a 

a classic Tamil language that highlights truthfulness, self-restraint, gratitude, hospitality, kindness, goodness of wife, duty, giving, and so forth.