Dedication of “Library For Learning”: Opening Doors For Students in Rural India

Vidya Gyan is pleased that one of its many dream projects “Library for Learning” has come to fruition with its inauguration and dedication on January 12, 2018. What a pleasant coincidence that the inauguration was on Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, India’s great statesman and philosopher Vidya Gyan President and family were pleased that the library was dedicated to Babu Ram Goal Agarwal who was one of the founding members and very long-term President of the school (J.P. Adarsh Vidya Mandir Inter College) in his native village Kota (Saharanpur, U.P.). One significant component of the Library for Learning is a Text Book Bank which provides course books in Science and Mathematics to all students in grades 9-12. Like the United States, the books are very expensive and beyond the reach of many impoverished families in the rural areas.

What makes Vidya Gyan proud is that we are providing access to the books which are critical source for education (Vidya) leading to knowledge (Gyan). The chief guest for the ceremony was the well-known educationist and MLC Sri Hem Singh Pundeer. Other distinguished guests gracing the occasion included District Inspector of Schools, Pradhans, (village heads) from surrounding villages, community and education leaders from many Inter Colleges in the region. The event was presided by Dr. S.K. Gupta, President of Vidya Gyan India(VGI), an independent sister organization facilitating and supervising all Vidya Gyan sponsored activities on the ground.

Sincere thanks are due to Sri Om Prakash Saini, Principal of Inter College who ably led the inaugural event from inception to a successful completion. The teaching and support staff and students deserve very special appreciation for their tireless efforts in decorating, presenting cultural programs and undertaking the major effort, the best in the short life span of Vidya Gyan. Approximately 700 students sat through the entire event patiently despite very cold temperature, reminding the weather of Minnesota.

The event began with the lighting of the lamp, a short prayer to invoke Goddess Sarasvati, the preserver of knowledge and learning. Following the welcoming pleasantries of the distinguished guests, many spoke about the importance of the library and books, the message by Swami Vivekananda, and other spiritual and intellectual messages. The distinguished guests were presented a memento from the College as a token of their appreciation. All in all, the event was well attended and the message to students was very loud and clear that education is their salvation for a better future. They were reminded that learning is a process and more they put into it, the greater are the benefits they can reap in the years ahead.