In Bansa, a small village in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh, a remarkable transformation is underway, sparked by a community library that began as a modest initiative during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Today, it stands as a 24/7 beacon of hope with over 5,000 books, serving thousands across 54 villages and reshaping educational and social horizons in this rural heartland.
The Humble Beginnings and Vision
The Bansa Community Library was founded in 2020 by Jatin Lalit Singh, a young lawyer and social entrepreneur who returned to his native village during the lockdown. What started with 50 donated books in a single room within a temple courtyard has organically grown into a thriving knowledge commons with more than 2,100 registered members.
Situated in a region where literacy rates linger about 10% below the national average, the library’s mission is to democratize access to learning resources without barriers such as membership fees or formalities that traditionally deter rural users.
Lalit, also the founder of the Aruna Mithlesh Foundation and general secretary of India’s Free Libraries Network, emphasizes that their approach respects community choice-visitors can read, study, or simply enjoy computer and social activities, making the space inclusive and inviting especially for those new to reading.
Empowering Lives Through Access to Knowledge
This library has ignited a culture of learning among villagers who previously had limited educational resources. Students from Bansa have successfully cleared competitive exams, secured university admissions, and entered government services. Among them, Rahul Pal, once selling vegetables with his father, is now studying at Delhi University, while Shanu Kumar serves as a Delhi Police constable, and Amit has joined the Indian Army.
Women, historically excluded from educational spaces in the village, have found a safe haven through the library’s Pop-Up Library Project, which brings books directly to their neighbourhoods twice a week, overcoming social and mobility constraints.
The library’s inclusive programs-ranging from mentoring and coaching sessions to social justice discussions-have fostered a critical consciousness and solidarity within the community.
Challenges and Expanding Horizons
Though the library’s impact is transformative, it faces challenges typical of rural initiatives. Overcrowding, infrastructure limits, and harsh weather conditions compel some activities to move outdoors under trees, underscoring the need for more robust facilities.
However, the library’s reach continues to expand, now actively serving 54 villages with plans to further grow book distribution and literacy outreach. The success of the library is a direct refutation of governmental neglect-where traditional public library networks are overstretched or inaccessible, grassroots projects like Bansa’s fill critical gaps with local ownership and passionate stewardship.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The story of Bansa Community Library underscores the power of community-led initiatives to bridge educational inequities through empathy, innovation, and sustained effort. By creating accessible and welcoming spaces for learning, especially for marginalized women and first-generation students, the library champions the values of kindness, harmony, and coexistence that The Logical Indian lives by.
This model reminds us that true social change is often rooted not just in policies but in empowered communities seizing their destinies through dialogue and knowledge.
