https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Books for All and All for Books

IAS officer Rahul Kumar, who cracked UPSC even without having formal college education, is on another mission now. He is aiming to start libraries in all the `panchayats’ of Bihar’s Purnea district.
Indian Masterminds Stories

In this new age, most of our time is usually spend on internet surfing, specifically the social media. This change in our habits have distanced many of us from activities like reading and playing sports. In urban and metro areas, people are blessed with all the facilities of modern life, but yet they waste time on unnecessary things. On the other hand, in country sides and remote areas people are deprived of resources as well. This is the situation of many districts in Bihar. Leave other facilities, the condition of school & education level is also not up to satisfaction. This is something that the DM of Purnea, Bihar, Mr. Rahul Kumar couldn’t ignore.

Mr Kumar always dreamt of the betterment of education system. Perhaps it’s this zeal that   motivated him to start libraries in each & every panchayat of the district. 

Mr. Kumar has dreamt of starting 246 libraries in each panchayat of the district

In an interaction with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Kumar explained the idea behind the initiative and his personal connect with it.  

Mission ‘Kitaabdan’ 

The average literacy rate of Bihar is more that 70%, while Purnea is still struggling at 51.23%. The reason behind this is the lack of infrastructure and awareness about the importance of education amongst the people of this area. With the thought to improve the education percent in the area, Mr. Kumar decided to set up libraries in each panchayat of the district. He wanted to kickstart a reading culture among the people. 

Mentioning the inspiration behind the mission, he said, “I never went to regular college. All my education was done through distance learning. Still, I managed to cracked UPSC and it was because I spent more time on books. They are the best friends for any individual, and no matter how old a book is, the knowledge can’t be outdated. So, we thought of this ‘Kitaabdan’ initiative”. 

Four-Point Mission

Under this initiative, any person can donate their old books which will then be used in library. According to Mr. Kumar, there are four major points of this mission. Arranging the space is one and collection of books the second. Along with this, motivating readers to visit the libraries and starting a reading culture are two major aspect of this project. 

The first library was started on 25th January 2021 in Parora, Purnea

For the space aspect, Mr. Kumar has identified the empty rooms of `Panchayat Bhawans’ and community places, which are spread all across Purnea. The administration is also putting forward an awareness drive to inform people about the libraries and roping in experienced librarians to make this whole initiative more interesting with other related activities. 

“We are planning to start readers’ club so that people are automatically drawn to these libraries. The students who are preparing for exams will of course be benefitted from this, but we want every person to develop the habit of reading. As I said, the knowledge in books never goes wasted”, said Mr. Kumar. 

246 libraries by June end

Realising that public participation is very important for the success of this mission, Mr. Kumar and his team have requested the people of the panchayats to come forward in sponsoring newspapers & magazines for their libraries. 

On 25 January 2021, the first library was started in Parora. “We planned this for last year, but could not because of pandemic and lockdown. We are targeting a collection of 1.25 lakhs books so that all 246 libraries can have minimum of 500 books each. Till 12 February, we have managed to collect 70 thousand books.’’

By the end of February, Mr Kumar plans to start 80 libraries, and achieve the target of 246 libraries by June end.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Gandhinagar municipal bonds
Gujarat Leads in Municipal Bonds: Gandhinagar Floats Rs25 Cr Municipal Bonds, Becomes 5th Gujarat City to Tap Capital Markets
EPI NDMA disaster
Disaster-Proofing Public Assets: Engineering Projects India (EPI) Signs MoU with NDMA to Strengthen Disaster Resilience in Infrastructure Projects
Uttar Pradesh CM resized
Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath Lays Foundation of Data Centre in Ghaziabad; Highlights UP’s Agricultural and Dairy Transformation
BHEL_resized
Major Thermal Power Equipment Order: BHEL Secures Rs6,500 Crore Order from Adani Power for Six 800 MW Thermal Units
Solar Power Plant Assam
Green Power Push: NLCIL, APDCL Ink Agreement for 500 MW Solar Power Plant in Assam’s Karbi Anglong
jharkhand logo-resized
Jharkhand: Chief Minister Tractor Distribution Scheme Relaunched After Two Years - All Details Inside
Pushkar-Singh-Dhami
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Reviews Jamrani Dam Progress, Praises PM Modi for Reviving 60-Year-Old Dream - Know More
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Champions Education at Shala Praveshotsav 2025 in Gandhinagar - Know More
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
Ex-IRS Officer C. Rajendiran Illuminates Thirukkural’s Timeless Wisdom in Exclusive Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Gandhinagar municipal bonds
Gujarat Leads in Municipal Bonds: Gandhinagar Floats Rs25 Cr Municipal Bonds, Becomes 5th Gujarat City to Tap Capital Markets
EPI NDMA disaster
Disaster-Proofing Public Assets: Engineering Projects India (EPI) Signs MoU with NDMA to Strengthen Disaster Resilience in Infrastructure Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Ex IRS C Rajendiran
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT