A ‘guard’ian of books and learning

Satya Ranjan Doloi is a security guard but what he safeguards today is more precious than mere brick and mortar. Satya has a deep love for knowledge and books. And that has changed his life as well as that of many of the poor children in his neighbourhood. 

Hailing from a village in the Sundarbans, Satya could not study or get a college degree because of family financial troubles. He came to Kolkata looking for work and joined Jagat Mukherjee Park in north Kolkata as a security guard in 2010. 

When he found an unoccupied room at the park, he took a bold step. Satya put in Rs 2,700 of his own meagre salary , and set up the room as a home for a tiny collection of books and magazines. Over time, he built shelves from discarded wood and bought fans and lights. He worked multiple jobs, and the earnings went into building up his informal library. 

Udyaan Library has now grown to 15,000 books, a significant collection. “No one around here sells old books anymore, they donate it to me,” says Satya. “They know I look after the books like my own children. It’s not so much a library as an ashram for books.”

Satya’s deep love for books has become a wonderful educational opportunity for local children. “I saw that there were a lot of poor children in the locality, who don’t study, instead they would be begging on the streets. I wanted them to stop begging and I wanted to give them a way to learn,” says Satya.

Indeed, Satya’s library serves as the embodiment of a community resource: Books are donated by well-wishers, and books are lent free to underprivileged children. 

“‘I want them to read. You cannot achieve anything in life if you do not read,” says this guard who is a true force for good – one whose love for knowledge has led to a heroic effort to open the doors of the mind of young children. 

Aditya Birla Group is happy to partner The Better India to give voice to inspiring stories of people acting as #AForceForGood.