About The Person:-

Akarshana Sathish , Age – 13 years

Akarshana Sathish, a 13-year-old 8th-grade student, inaugurated her 18th library at Sai Seva Sangh in Moosapet on Wednesday. The event was graced by the Governor of Telangana, Jishnu Dev Varma, who praised the young girl’s inspiring efforts.
Akarshana’s journey began in 2021 when she visited the MNJ Cancer Children Hospital in Hyderabad and heard young cancer patients requesting books. Motivated by their desire to read, she began collecting books through donations from her community. Since then, she has established 18 libraries across diverse locations, such as police stations, orphanages, schools, and community centres, benefiting numerous individuals.
Speaking about her initiative, Akarshana Sathish said, “It gives me immense joy to see these libraries bringing happiness and knowledge to so many people.” Sai Seva Sangh trustee Aruna Pradeep also commended Akarshana’s dedication, highlighting the positive impact her libraries have had on underprivileged communities

The libraries, housing over 11,000 donated books, have reached cities including Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Siddipet. she has established 18 libraries in hospitals, orphanages, schools, police stations, and community centers across India. My libraries aim to provide books to children and adults in areas where resources are scarce. I have also worked on innovative initiatives such as the Metro Library Project, which will allow metro passengers to borrow and return books across different stations in Hyderabad.

She believe in the power of books to change lives. Through her work, she hope to inspire a love for reading and make learning accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or location. She is striving to bring communities together through literature, making it a shared resource that can spark creativity, learning, and personal growth.

Nature Of Innovation

The nature of innovation in her work lies in creating impactful and accessible library spaces in diverse and underserved locations. Over the past four years, she has established 18 libraries across various regions in India, including hospitals, orphanages, police stations, schools, and public spaces.

What sets her approach apart is the adaptability and outreach of these libraries. Instead of focusing on traditional locations, she have set up libraries where books are typically scarce, ensuring that those who need them most can access them easily.

In addition to placing books in unconventional spaces, she has implemented sustainable practices, such as collecting and repurposing used books from friends, family, neighbours, and classmates. This not only reduces waste but also encourages a culture of sharing and community involvement.

Each library is tailored to its specific location, ensuring that the collection of books meets the needs of the people in that community, whether it’s children at an orphanage, patients at a hospital, or young adults at a juvenile home.

Looking ahead, she is also working on an innovative Metro Library Project, which will launch in January 2025. In collaboration with L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad and the National Book Trust, this initiative will allow metro commuters to borrow books from one station and return them at another, creating a dynamic reading experience for daily travellers. This new approach integrates reading into daily life, making books even more accessible to the general public.

Impact And Reach

Over 12,000 Books Donated: She has collected and donated more than 12,000 books to 18 libraries across various locations in India, including hospitals, orphanages, police stations, and schools.

Libraries Established in Diverse Locations: She has set up libraries in unique places where access to books is limited, such as hospitals, juvenile homes, and public libraries in remote areas, making book more accessible to underserved communities.

National Recognition: Her work has gained recognition from prominent figures, including the President of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who have praised her efforts to promote literacy and reading.

Upcoming Metro Library Project: Her innovative Metro Library Project, set to launch in January 2025, will allow metro passengers to borrow and return books across different stations, reaching a wider audience and turning commuting time into reading time.

Empowering Young People and Communities: Through her initiatives, she has empowered young people to explore books and learn, fostering a culture of reading in communities where access to books was limited. This has inspired others to contribute to the cause and support literacy efforts.

Akarshana’s journey began at MNJ Cancer Hospital where she established her first library with 2,036 books, supported by the MNJ Director. Encouraged by the response, she then set up a second library at Sanath Nagar Police Station with 800 books. Then, a third library at the Juvenile And Observation Home to Girls in Hyderabad with 600 books
She continued her working towards her passion by donating of 200 books to the Gayathri Nagar Association in Borabanda, another 200 books to the Coimbatore City Police Street libraries, and 1,200 books to the Chennai Boys Club in the Nolambur Police Station. Her most recent initiative was creating a library at the Government High School in Sanath Nagar with over 600 books

Future Road Map

She further aims to establish three more libraries by the end of 2024. In the coming years, she aim to expand her library initiatives to reach more communities and make reading accessible to even more people.

By the end of 2024, she plan to open 10 more libraries, bringing the total to 25 plus libraries. She will continue focusing on underserved areas such as hospitals, orphanages, schools, and police stations, where access to books is limited.
Also, she will enhance the Metro Library Project, ensuring it reaches multiple metro stations and becomes a permanent feature of daily life for commuters in Hyderabad.
She also aim to collaborate with more organizations, NGOs, and educational institutions to create a larger network of book donations and library setups.
Furthermore, She will work on promoting digital literacy alongside traditional reading to make books available in digital formats for easier access. By combining traditional and digital methods, she plans to inspire more children and adults to embrace reading and learning.

The India Book of Records has officially recognised Hyderabad-based Akarshana Sathish for setting up 10 libraries at the young age of 12. At a ceremony presided by Union minister of culture and tourism G. Kishan Reddy and an adjudicator from the India Book of Records, Dr Dandi Vasudha Rani, she will receive the accolade as the youngest person to establish this many libraries in the country.

Her libraries offer a wide range of books, including Hindi, English, Telugu, fiction, non-fiction and general knowledge books.

REFERENCES

• https://timesofindia-indiatimes com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/12-year-old-girl-opens-12th-library-in-hyderabad/amp_articleshow
• https://liveindia-tv.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/liveindia.tv/13-year-old-akarshana-sathish-establishes-her-18th-library-at-sai-seva-sanghamp/
• https://www-timesnownews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.timesnownews.com/hyderabad/meet-hyderabads-akarshana-sathish-11-year-old-who-caught-pm-modis-attention-with-her-library-project-
• https://www-devdiscourse-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3173729-teens-library
• https://www-news18-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.news18.com/amp/india/
• https://indiabookofrecords.in/youngest-to-set-up-libraries/
• https://www-newstap-in.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.newstap.in/amp/city-news/