A Kalam Library, an initiative of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre, was inaugurated at the Observation Home in Ahmedabad on February 6, 2018. The library gives access to books to 20-25 children living in the Observation Home. The first book of this Library was donated by Smt. Avantika Singh Aulakh, IAS, District Collector, Ahmedabad. Also present at the event were Smt. Bhartibaa Vaghela, Deputy District Collector of Ahmedabad and Mr. Srijan Pal Singh, Founder of Kalam Library Project who interacted with the children during the Library launch.
The Agni Stage Library, named after the long range missile invented by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, 11th President of India, has about 70-100 books which are carefully selected to suit the age and interest of the beneficiaries and will enlighten them through the biographies and life lessons from some of the most eminent revolutionaries across the world.
The mission of the Kalam Library Project is to inculcate values and ethics in young India so that they can create a better future of the nation as envisioned by Dr. Kalam, a great visionary who gave India a mission of development.
“Dr. Kalam has been such an inspiration. We are happy to support the Kalam Library Project. Books have the power to build the world. Through initiatives like the Kalam Library Project, we want to spark children’s potential through creative writing, storytelling, reading, and many other art forms” says Smt. Avantika Singh Aulakh, District Collector of Ahmedabad.
The first library was launched at Prayaas School for unprivileged children at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Out of the 80 + Kalam Libraries, there are over 12 Libraries within the state of Gujarat itself.
“I am very happy to see the Kalam Library Project touching so many lives across the country. Through this initiative, we wish to provide opportunities to the youth of Ahmedabad to make global connections, build bridges between communities through the world of books along with value-based recreational and educational activities.” Says Mr. Srijan Pal Singh, CEO of Kalam Centre and Founder of the Kalam Library Project.
The Kalam Library Project (KLP) is one of the unfulfilled dreams of Dr. Kalam, which is based on his philosophy that every youth of the nation should have access to library as a matter of right. KLP was started in January 2016 and under the cooperation of many stakeholders. Today, over eighty Kalam Libraries are already operating as not just reading rooms but as centres of excellence and learning across the country with many more in pipeline.
