Mini Library:
What you are seeking, is seeking you. - Rumi.
They say, necessity is the mother of invention. But what would you label a moment that carves itself through the medium of necessity on an inconspicuous pathway of the greater good? Innovation. A core thought centricity at Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, where the volume of work we do for people across the country and globally never emerges out of thin air. For us our goal, soul, passion and every persevering effort is to deliver a better life to people by deploying our resources and backing them with technology and innovation.
And this is exactly what happened when we were looking for a television trolley to station the TV but couldn’t find one. So we decided to step out and scan the furniture market, landing our eyes on a compact trolley that ignited an innovative thought to take our mission of making books accessible for reading for everyone forward.
An on-demand mini library.
Trolleys stacked with preferred books of choice so that one doesn’t have to rent a space for people to screen through these gems. The creativity of convenience met with the compassion of purpose. And the bigger goal of all - Books.
How it began + Books Vs digital
Bringing books back in fashion. Bringing reading back in fashion. Bringing thoughtful ideas back in fashion. Championing modern thinking with good old learning, Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust.
Come to think of it, in this age of fast information consumption, digitization, reading data being available at click, the art and patience of reading is truly lost. Children immersed in story books, colouring their imagination with their favourite characters or creating the next rocket has been missing from the canvas of the country. Young adults being consumed by screen instead of healthy debates at the book clubs.
The grown ups feeding themselves with bite-sized information versus soaking in the joy of reading page after page and cultivating the same in their children. It’s truly a hazy and laid-back time we live in. Where the attention spans are down to 30 second content matter and a 300 page book is summarized in a 30 minute podcast. How do we build it all again, how do we bring the world closer to books again? The feasibility of establishing multiple libraries seemed bleak.
But soon enough, a sturdy trolley stood before us holding the answer on its racks and wheels. A movable library that can be created and prepared on-demand. A genius emergence of thought backed by the truthfulness of a vision, to make the joy of reading accessible for everyone. And that’s all it took to have Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust’s engines charged, working to adorn the new face of Swiggy of Education.
Mini library
Charging ahead as agents of change - Ratna Nidhi.
The single seed of an ingenious idea germinated into a full-fledged model. A process that followed a simple flow of:
● Place an order.
● Two weeks to plan, assimilate and deliver your mini library.
Making learning and reading convenient through the model of mini libraries.
Ratna Nidhi’s libraries became a part of:
● BMC
● Private and semi-aided schools and colleges
● Hospitals
● Medical colleges
● Nursing homesLike a beacon of hope, shining the light of words upon many seeking souls. So far, through these ingenious efforts, Ratna Nidhi’s mini libraries have reached nearly 80 locations within and outside Mumbai. The 200+ libraries which have been donated with almost 40000 books have brought smiles and learning into the lives of over 100000 readers.
Where all
Little wheels of the big picture of education. Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust’s mini library made its way around the city and other places. Spreading joy. Spreading wisdom. Making reading a right and not a privilege.
● Ambernath ● Andheri ● Bandra ● Bhandup ● Borivali ● Byculla ● Charkop ● Cheeta Camp ● Chembur ● CST ● Dadar ● Dharavi ● Diva
● Dombivali ● Fort ● Ghatkopar ● Girgaon ● Govandi ● Grant Road ● Jogeshwari ● Juhu ● Kalyan ● Kamathipura ● Kandivali ● Kanjurmarg● Khar ● Kurla ● Mahakali Caves ● Mahalaxmi ● Mahim ● Malad ● Malwani ● Mankhurd ● Manor ● Matunga ● Mira Road ● Mulund ● Mumbai Central
● Nagpada ● New Panvel ● Panvel ● Parel ● Powai ● Vikhroli ● Wadala ● Sanpada ● Santacruz ● Sion ● Thakurdwar ● Thane● Trombay ● Turbe
● Versova● Vidyavihar ● Akola ● Alibaug ● Karad ● Karjat ● Khardi ● Madanpura ● Makunsar ● Matheran ● Palghar● Patpanhale ● Raigad
● Ratnagiri ● Shahad ● Shahapur ● Titwala ● Valsad ● Vavoshi
Hospital Wards & Covid
A ray of optimism that nursed the frontline warriors at the hospitals to the pink of their health - Ratna Nidhi’s mini libraries.
Back when Covid gripped the country and there was a spell of disturbing feelings, hospitals were the only place that saw faces day in and day out. From trying to save a life to keeping the ones around them safe, the frontline warriors of staff, nurses, doctors, technicians bore a heavy burnout and breakdowns. There was no respite.
The mini libraries provided by Ratna Nidhi became their sounding board. Skimming through books on self help, mental wellness, spirituality, positivity, fitness, health and more lighter reads gave them a break from the draining cases and uncertainty.
The long work hours felt easier with a book to lean on. When nothing comforted them, books came to their rescue and for a brief bit transported them to a world that was better. Thus, keeping them balanced and focused at work.
Gradually the temptation to read grew. A ripple effect was created. Many hospitals began to place mini libraries so that not just the staff but the people queued up in waiting areas could also find solace in the vast ocean of words.
And that’s how the mini libraries transformed into the new temples at hospitals, where silent prayers floated as pages were turned and peace and learning found a fitting seat next to each other.
At Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, books are a roadmap that everyone deserves. To follow, to arrive, to be, to grow.
With the success of Ratna Nidhi’s endeavour to reach places and reach readers, it only humbly reminds us that the walk is always a long one. And the ones in it are the true sculptors of India, who don’t only lend a promise of hope and better tomorrow but thread the needle to weave a better, braver, brighter and a story of an unbending nation. What our tiny chariots of books can encompass is far beyond our comprehension. Ratna Nidhi’s mini libraries will continue to immerse readers across the country and yield new ones.
Like Swami Vivekananda once said, “Arise, awake, stop not until your goal is achieved.”
