Telangana Retired Teacher Runs 2 Lakh-Book Library Transforming Lives

Across South Asia, significant efforts are underway to expand public access to books and foster a culture of reading among youth and children. In Telangana, India, retired teacher Veeragoni Anjaneyulu Goud has transformed his home into a free public library housing over 200,000 books, supporting generations of students and job seekers. Similarly, the Chhattisgarh government is investing over Rs 237 crore to build 34 new central libraries and reading zones, aiming to provide equal educational opportunities even in remote areas. Malaysia hosts a permanent collection of internationally acclaimed children's books from the IBBY Honour List, emphasizing the role of illustrations in fostering cross-cultural understanding and children's development. Pakistan is also witnessing grassroots and national initiatives, such as the Alif Laila Book Bus Society, which has been inspiring children with mobile libraries and outreach programs for nearly five decades, alongside calls for greater investment in public libraries to strengthen intellectual growth and social fabric. These varied initiatives highlight a shared recognition across the region of libraries as vital tools for education, empowerment, and cultural exchange.