When Julie, a spirited 8-year-old girl from Bansa village in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, first stepped into her village’s community library, her curiosity was boundless. The library — the first of its kind in the entire district — had opened amidst the Covid-19 turmoil. It was a modest but colourful building with books, computers, posters, and games. And the best part: It was all free! Julie would frequently visit the library and pick up storybooks, participate in read-aloud activities, and make new friends. She also became intrigued by the Preamble to the Constitution, which was painted in large letters on the library wall, and wondered what it meant. The library became her sanctuary.
However, when her father decided to migrate to Ludhiana for work, post-lockdown, Julie was left without her beloved library. In a phone call to the librarian soon after, she spoke about how much she missed it. She wondered why the big and bustling city did not have its own version of the Bansa Community Library.
Julie’s story is not unique; she represents many learners and readers across India who are profoundly impacted by lack of access to free public libraries. The Indian public library system has a rich history and some pockets of success; however, it largely remains underdeveloped, underfunded, and unequal. The lack of a comprehensive national library policy has left many communities — especially the marginalised — without access to these essential public goods.
Historically, public libraries have been spaces of resistance, empowerment, and cultural assertion. They have provided access to knowledge and ideas that challenged colonial oppression and ignited the spirit of Independence. The Assam rural library movement of the 1930s, spearheaded by Kumudeswar Borthakur, is one such example. The movement mobilised the masses and engaged them in conversations about the value of knowledge. This laid the foundation for a network of libraries that continue to thrive today. Kerala Grandhasala Sangham and the Andhra Pradesh Library Association are other such initiatives which have been important in democratising access to reading and learning.
After Independence, public libraries have continued to be significant for advancing literacy, fostering critical thinking, and nurturing informed civic engagement. In 1959, the Sinha Committee recognised the transformative potential of libraries, and advocated for a nationwide network of free public libraries. Institutions like the Delhi Public Library and the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation have carried forward this vision and promoted the library movement across the country.
The library movement has also been shaped by the vision of leaders like S R Ranganathan, who advocated for a people-centric approach to library services. In his “Five Laws of Library Science”, he emphasised the role of libraries in serving the needs of all users, regardless of their background or social status. His philosophy laid the groundwork for a more inclusive and responsive library system.
However, despite the efforts of library pioneers and the enactment of state-level library legislation, India’s public library system remains fragmented and underfunded. The lack of a comprehensive national policy framework has hindered the development of a cohesive and equitable network of libraries across the country. Disparities in infrastructure, resources, and services still persist. These disparities disproportionately impact those who are already historically excluded from equal participation in our society on the basis of caste, class, gender, disability and other barriers.
India urgently needs a comprehensive national library policy that addresses these challenges and reimagines India’s library system as a catalyst for social change and democratic empowerment. Such a policy must recognise that access to knowledge is not a privilege but a fundamental right. It is essential for the full realisation of a community’s potential and the collective progress of the nation.
By enshrining the principles of free and universal access, the policy should aim to break down barriers that have long excluded marginalised communities from the world of learning and democratic participation. It must envision libraries as inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity, promote social cohesion, and provide a platform for civic discourse. Through equitable distribution of quality knowledge resources and services, the policy should also seek to support digital inclusion and ensure that no individual is left behind in the knowledge revolution.
Julie’s story highlights the transformative impact of free public libraries. By enacting a comprehensive national library policy, we can ensure that every child, like Julie, has access to knowledge and the opportunity to shape India’s democratic future. In the spirit of B R Ambedkar’s vision of an inclusive and enlightened India, let us make the right to knowledge a reality through a robust public library system that empowers every citizen to read, think, and speak up freely.
Vyas is the co-founder and academic coordinator of the Bansa Community Library and a doctoral researcher in Education at Brunel University London. Lalit is the advocate and founder of Bansa Community Library and general secretary of Free Libraries Network
