Children and women bookworms have found their new haven in the Arera Hills at the library “Bal Pustakalaya”. What sets Bal Pustakalaya apart from other libraries is the young lady who runs it, a third-grader called Muskaan Ahirwar.

At 4pm every day, Muskaan sets up her library on a mat outside her house, and throngs of young students eagerly await her appearance and surround her. She takes her place and tells them stories or reads out loud from books. The books that are read are a mixture of books the children bring, books donated by the NGO Room To Read, and by Rajya Siksha Kendra, MP.
Muskaan was asked to represent the library when the State Education Board visited them earlier this year, after she won a quiz they had. “Currently officials have provided 119 books to the library, which is my responsibility and I love doing this. Other children in slum area, take books and then return other day. Some stay back to read here with me and ask questions where they don’t understand,” said Muskaan, in a report to TOI. She also maintains a register along with her sister Neha Ahirwar, a 7th grader. “We never thought her to be a name of change in society. We have two daughters and they extremely dedicated to their studies and towards making change,” adds Maya Ahirwar, Muskan’s mother.

Feature Image Courtesy of The Better India

Words: Divija Mohan