Ever since ethnic strife broke out in Manipur, the region has been making news for all the wrong reasons. However, amidst all the disheartening news and rumours, there are also good things happening in a hilly, and predominantly rural, district known for its high literacy rate.
The district is also home to ace boxer-tuned-MP Mary Kom, who had tweeted an emotional message when violence had first broken out in Manipur. It is in this district, which is still tense, that an IAS officer, born and brought up here, has taken a positive step to motivate and channelise the energy of the youth towards UPSC and other competitive exams. He is Mr. Haulianlal Guite, a 2011-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.
Indian Masterminds spoke to Mr. Guite to bring you this positive story from Lamka, amidst all the negativity making the rounds.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT
Churachandpur, or Lamka, is dominated by tribes belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group. The literacy rate is high here, 82.78 per cent way back in 2011, according to a census. It is the largest district in Manipur, of predominantly rural and hilly terrain. People here traditionally work in the government sector. In fact, representation in civil services is quite high, in proportion to its small population.
“Given how small our tribal populations are (a popular wit quips that we can all fit in a couple of trains!), I have always believed the only way we can preserve ourselves and advance far in life, is through education. This means developing a learning culture and a scientific outlook. This means books. And books need library,” Mr. Guite said.
A COSY NEST FOR READERS
That is how he came up with the initiative for a library to house not only the great books of the world, but vernacular literature also, so that they can be preserved for posterity.
Named ‘Reader’s Nest’, it is, however, not the regular kind of library one would expect. It has 150 seats, all in exclusive cabins or general cabins. There is also a hostel with 30 beds, of which 20 are free and the other 10 are paid. The free beds are for orphans, the differently-abled, and students without homes or places to stay in Lamka, the town where the Nest is located.
BOOKS PROVIDED ON REQUEST
The Nest started in April this year, inaugurated by another local officer, Mr. Vumlunmang Vualnam, IAS, who was then the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur. Since then, he has been posted as Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India.
“Currently, the library is quite lean, having some 5000 books. But we have a dedicated librarian. Also, books suggestion can be put in our Suggestion Box, and we get them for the students at the earliest,” Mr Guite said.
The library building is funded by Coal India while BPCL provides the books through CSR. Managing the library is difficult now, given the circumstances, but it continues to be operated through well wishers’ contributions, while being designed to be self-financing in the long term.
Mr. Guite said, “In the present situation, however, most of our students have fled the state, so only a few remain. Only the 20 sponsored hostellers and a few other students currently avail its facilities.”
In view of the prevailing situation in Manipur, especially Lamka, the fees for Reader’s Nest reading rooms for June, July and August 2023 has been reduced by 50 per cent for the paying students, while remaining free for the sponsored hostellers, and orphans.
“Cost of living has increased in our localities and other hardships have arisen, but studies of students cannot be interrupted so that opportunities are not missed. Hence, this welfare measure has been taken to help our students,” the officer said.
MOTIVATING THROUGH WHATSAPP
He is trying to keep in touch with all the students and keep them motivated through a WhatsApp group of the Nest, which has 600+ participants. This group is used to give updates about Reader’s Nest services, new book arrivals, for receiving suggestions from group members, and for them to order books for rental.
However, in view of the current situation in the state, the setting has been changed to posting by admins only.
“As it is, our local students cannot access WhatsApp as internet has not been restored yet. Also, I am worried unnecessary political issues might be discussed, and will go out of control. This is why we have limited the group to posting by admins only,” Mr. Guite explained.
CONFLICT SHOULD NOT DERAIL OUR FUTURE
In the midst of the recent violence came the heartening news that 38 candidates from the Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group passed the UPSC Prelims this year, the results of which were declared on 12 June. “That’s a lot of our people clearing Prelims. Civil service is arguably the one area where we can beat anyone else,” Mr. Guite said.
He further urged the aspirants to not allow this conflict to derail their future, especially future doctors and future civil servants, who will be badly needed at any time under any circumstance.
“Forget all the noise and focus. We each have our roles to play in these trying times. The duties of aspirants remain the same – study, pass, and contribute,” he said.
Mr. Guite was on a home cadre deputation to Manipur. His last posting was as DC, Pherzawl district. He has very recently left Manipur and joined the Rajasthan government as Commissioner of Disabilities. Regarding the Reader’s Nest, he said, “There are people to take care of it on the ground. But, I will monitor its activities from here. Since, some level of normalcy has returned, the library is now open for day time. If things get better, we will open night time from next month.”
EVERY POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION COUNTS
Mr. Guite was born in Churachandpur and had aced UPSC CSE with AIR 33 to join IAS in Rajasthan cadre. One of the youngest UPSC toppers from Manipur, he sees potential in the state producing more toppers in good ranks, especially from his home district, as the youths there aspire to join government services. Hence, through the Reader’s Nest, he is trying to nurture and give wings to the aspirations of the youths by bringing resources of UPSC and other competitive exams like CDS, NEET, IIT-JEE, to their doorsteps, so that they remain focussed on their aspirations.
Problems will come and go, but goals should not get out of sight and dreams should not be allowed to die. In dire times like this, every positive step counts, and a small step like the Reader’s Nest can go a long way in channelising young energies towards productive pursuits. And, in the process, nurture more homegrown talents for premier civil services of the country like the IAS and the IPS.
