BAGALKOT: In the wake of the state government’s decision to suspend ‘Vidyagama’, children from a socio-economically disadvantageous background have been affected greatly, hopes of continuity in their education dashed. Taking cognisance of their situation and to ensure that their learning continues, Priyadarshini Sharanappa Amadihal, a lecturer at a government college in Dhannur in Bagalkot district, started a library with her own money – Rs 10,000 – in Ambedkar Nagar, a locality in Ilkal town mostly populated by Dalits, for the benefit of the children there. A youngster in the locality has been tasked with overseeing the operations at the library.
The setting up of a library for the children in Ambedkar Nagar seems like a natural step to take for Priyadarshini, who has been offering her books to students at the college she works at for the past decade. Ample support from her father Sharanappa Amadihal and husband Uday Kumar Dhammannavar gave her the necessary encouragement to go ahead with setting up of the library in Ambedkar Nagar. “When I approached the Babasaheb Ambedkar Dalit Hitarakshana Vedike, the organisation members and residents of the area welcomed me like a daughter. The library itself was inaugurated last Sunday in a simple ceremony,” Priyadarshini told TOI.
Basappa Mudhol, a senior citizen and member of the vedike, said that the library stayed open two hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. Although he did not have the benefit of education – an illiterate, he called himself – he is determined to ensure that the ensuing generations reap the rewards of learning. “When madam (Priyadarshini) approached us with this proposal, we drew up a list of children attending schools and colleges and convinced parents to send their wards to the library. We have about 20 chairs at the Ambedkar Bhavan, where the library is housed. Anand Shivanagutti, a resident of neighbouring Basav Nagar, donated two bookshelves to the library and another philanthropist donated a table,” Basappa said.
Priyadarshini, meanwhile, is already working on her next project: Hiring a tutor to teach English to the children of Ambedkar Colony so they rise to be on a par with students from English-medium schools. “We are also organising seminars on Jyotibha Phule, Savitribai Phule, Ram Manohar Lohia, Shahu Maharaj, et al so that youngsters and children can draw inspiration from their lives,” she added.
Youngssters in Ambedkar Colony Suresh Doddamani and Suresh Jangli said that the library had helped them expand the horizons of their knowledge. They felt confident of the kids in the colony becoming knowledgeable about the Buddha, Basavanna and Ambedkar in a few months.
Priyadarshini expressed her gratitude to Ladai Prakashan in Gadag, the store that offered books at a concessional price to help her set up the library.