Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong,25th May

A school dropout, Bipal Rasaily(21)is running a small library at Munsong about 23 km from here.

Bipal, who works as a reporter for a local channel based in Kalimpong, felt the necessity of a library in his area.

“I always wanted to give back to the society,and then I thought, what could be better than education? That is when I started Munsong Library Institution,” Bipal said.

Started way back in 2011 with 34 books the present strength has gone upto 900 plus where about 70 students have enrolled themselves.

Anmol Gurung, a student who just passed his higher secondary examination, said,“The library has helped students like me inculcate the habit of reading. There was no such place where we could go to and search for books we needed.He ( Bipal) thought of the need and started the library in a small room in his own house which is now of great help.”

The 16 x 8 ft library contains donated books from different people.Books in English,Nepali,Hindi and Bengali along with short stories, general knowledge,reference books are available.However, there is space constraint.

A teacher of a government school has donated ten chairs, after hearing about his motive to spread knowledge among one and all.

“Munsong is a small place...the children are very talented here but they don’t get a platform to showcase their talents.”

Bipal appealed to one and all to donate books which are lying in their houses unlooked for.

Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sangathan ,a federal based organisation of farmers,

too visited the library and congratulated Bipal on his effort and hard work.

Bishnu Chhetri has assured them of providing the library with book shelves

, a computer. 

Meanwhile, when asked about state aid for the library, District Library Office Amrit Subba said there are some procedures to be followed.

SDO Kalimpong Nirmalya Gharami said that there is a separate office where library registration is done.