This quirky ‘Ghoda Library’ in Nainital is winning hearts and minds!

There is a unique library in Uttarakhand that is winning people’s hearts. It is not a grand old building with books or an educational institution. It is on the back of a horse. You read that right, we are talking about the unique and endearing Ghoda Library.
Uttarakhand has, in the recent past, seen pretty harsh days this monsoon season. Severe rainfall and landslides almost paralysed the state. Everything closed down in Uttarakhand, including educational institutions like schools and colleges.

In the remote parts of Uttarakhand, where life is tough as it is, closing down of schools meant young readers not getting the education they needed, especially the habit of studying. To avoid this, a Nainital resident, Shubham Badhani, thought out-of-the-box and came up with this unique and brilliant idea of Ghoda Library.

As the name suggests, there’s a horse that carries around a bunch of books on its back and goes from village to village, stopping for everyone who is willing to read a book or two. It is safe to say that the idea was very well received and several people, young and adults, started making use of the unique portable library.

With this, the children in the villages now have full access to books and other study materials. One can find the Ghoda Library in several remote villages in Nainital District. Some of the villages are Baghani, Jalna, Mahaldhura, Alekh, Gautiya, Dhinvakharak, and Bansi. Now even when the schools are closed, the children have access to books.

This initiative was a success due to the willing participation of the parents as well. An arrangement was made where the parents volunteered their horses for a day every week. Let’s be honest, the horse was a pretty good touch. It would grab the attention of children as well as elders who need it.