KP Radhamani is a 65 year old ‘walking librarian’ from a village in Wayanad called Mothakkara. She has been distributing books to women and the elderly at their doorsteps since Braving the hilly terrain, she walks kilometres daily carrying a basket of books. Her first job was at a printing press and then for 24 years she worked as a Balavadi teacher teaching tribal students.

In 2012 she joined the Pratibha Public Library and began her journey as a walking librarian as part of Kerala State Library Council’s initiative to encourage reading among women by taking books to their homes. She takes 20-50 Malayalam books covering various genres and subjects from the Pratibha Library and delivers them to around 110 members.

She carefully selects these books aligning reading with more community development initiatives by the government. Initially the ladies in the village were reluctant to read books. Radhamani’s persistent efforts helped them develop a reading habit. From magazines they started reading novels. They got so used to reading that even during the pandemic they used to drop by at Radhamani’s house to borrow books. She has been a source of emotional and intellectual support for many women and children during the pandemic.

She also provides competitive examination preparation material to help women prepare for competitive exams like PSC. Owing to her consistent efforts, there are now 102 members in the library, 94 of them women. Besides being a librarian she also works as a tourist guide during her book distribution journeys. Working as a guide helped her with her long walks to and from the library everyday. “I don’t mind the walks – I trek hills as a guide”, says Radhamani.