Bandipora, Apr 25: Aragam, a small village in the land of Alim (Knowledge), Adab (Good Habits) and Aab (Water) in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district is undergoing a unique transformation, as the village turns into a book village, where every home has become a repository of knowledge.
Spearheaded by the locals and steeped in the essence of Kashmiriyat, this groundswell of enthusiasm is transforming Aragam into a haven for book lovers.
Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the book village, Sarhad, a Pune-based non-profit organisation, has planned the ‘Valley of Knowledge’ at Lolab Valley, Kupwara district, south of Neelum Valley.
The ‘Valley of Knowledge’ and the book village at Aragam are ambitious initiatives that have the potential to transform the Himalayan region into a thriving centre of learning and cultural exchange.
These projects tap into the rich literary history of Kashmir and work closely with the local community. Speaking about the initiative, the founder of Sarhad, Sanjay Nahar, said, “We believe that education can be the most potent tool to transform any society. Through the ‘Valley of Knowledge’ and the book village, we aim to revive Kashmir’s old traditions, culture and ‘Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb’. Our mission is to create a new generation of leaders who can bring about positive change in their communities.”
While adding to the fact that the valley has the potential to become a modern seat of knowledge with libraries, book fairs, and seminars on Kashmir’s literature, Sanjay Nahar said, “Two libraries dedicated to Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh, pioneers of women’s education in modern India, will also be established by Sarhad. A science park will be set up here too. Theatres, gardens, nature trails, and riverfronts are planned to make it an unforgettable experience for students, visitors, and tourists. Renowned architects such as Sheikh Imran are designing the area”.
The book village concept is fascinating — an entire village or town dedicated to promoting literacy, reading and the exchange of ideas. These unique places have popped up around the world, providing locals and tourists alike with an extraordinary experience that combines the joy of reading with the charm of a picturesque location.
There are several book villages worldwide — Hay-on-Wye in Wales, Montolieu in France, Wigtown in Scotland and St Martin’s in Belgium. Each of these villages has its distinct character, offering various bookshops, libraries and literary events that showcase local and international literature. In India, Bhilar, a small village near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, has been transformed into the first book village under the guidance of former minister Vinod Tawde.
Sarhad drew inspiration from these villages to give the idea to Shah Faesal, the then DC of Bandipora, to implement this concept at Athwatoo. Later, it was suggested that poet Mahjoor’s village Mitigram should be transformed into a book village. However, Siraj Uddin Khan, a student with Sarhad who is now pursuing a PhD in history, took it upon himself to create a village of books and poems at Aragam.
The book Village at Aragam is unique as it is spearheaded by the locals and is steeped in the essence of Kashmiriyat. This groundswell of enthusiasm is transforming Aragam into a haven for book lovers, where every home has become a repository of knowledge.
Sarhad is estimated to install the library in all 400 houses in the village which will make it the largest book village in the world. Siraj Ud Din Khan, a local scholar engaged with the Sarhad Foundation while talking to Rising Kashmir said that they have a target of instating 30 Lakh books in the area.
“Eight Lakh books of different genres, English, Urdu, Science, Politics, Novels including fiction and non-fiction books as well as books for competitive examinations have been already installed in the area”, Siraj said.
“The initiative will not only help to boost the footfall of intellectuals towards the area”, he said, but will also generate employment opportunities for the marginalised community residing there.
“From recruiting the people of the area for the library purpose to building the home-stays in the residences, the book village initiative will boost the education as well as the economy of the village as well”, he added.
Lauding the effort, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently suggested that it could catalyze promoting these areas and drawing in knowledge seekers from all over the globe to Kashmir. “The Valley of Knowledge’ and the book village are ambitious initiatives that have the potential to transform the region into a thriving centre of learning and cultural exchange.
“By tapping into the rich literary history of Kashmir and working closely with the local community, these projects will not only contribute to the local economy but also help foster renewed pride and unity among the region’s people,” he said.
