The Better India
In the quiet evenings of Aragam village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, 16-year-old Irfan Ahmad now spends hours reading beside a dim bulb inside his mud-plastered home. A few years ago, he had dropped out of school after Class 6 because his family could not afford educational expenses, and there were barely any books available in the remote tribal village near Wular Lake. Today, Irfan reads everything from Kashmiri history to Urdu fiction and dreams of resuming his education. His favourite books are stories about Kashmir’s past and the natural world around Wular Lake. After finishing each book, he gathers his younger siblings and narrates the stories back to them — something he says has changed how he sees himself and his future. “Earlier, I felt my studies had ended forever,” Irfan says. “Now, when I read, it feels like I am still learning. I want to continue my education and prepare for competitive exams someday.” In the foothills of Harmukh, where dense pine forests slope gently towards Wular Lake, Aragam is quietly transforming itself into Kashmir’s first major ‘Book Village’, where homes have become miniature libraries and reading is reshaping the identity of an entire tribal community. A tribal village reimagined through books Aragam has long been a remote settlement where educational opportunities were limited. For many families, access to schools, study material, and even basic infrastructure remained a challenge. Today, however, the village is witnessing a remarkable shift. Mud-plastered homes, once symbols of remoteness, are being transformed into spaces of learning. In many households, wooden shelves now hold books ranging from Kashmir’s history and regional literature to novels and fiction from around the world. This transformation began with a 2014 proposal by Sarhad NGO, which envisioned creating a “book village” in Jammu and Kashmir. After consultations with the district administration in Bandipora and a detailed survey of areas around Wular Lake, Aragam was chosen for its infrastructure and, more importantly, the willingness of residents to participate. Aragam has long been a remote settlement where educational opportunities were limited. The initiative is being supported by Pune-based Sarhad NGO in collaboration with local volunteers and the district administration. Books are sourced through donations, publishers, and educational organisations, with many titles focusing on Kashmiri literature, regional history, environmental awareness, and school education. Instead of building a single central library, organisers adopted a decentralised model in which each participating home maintains books on a particular subject. Some houses specialise in fiction and novels, while others store books related to history, religion, children’s literature, or competitive examinations. Villagers themselves manage the circulation system. Students borrow books from different homes and return them after reading, creating what locals describe as a “community library without walls”. Residents say this shared ownership has helped sustain the project and encouraged families to participate actively in children’s learning. With the consent of villagers, books were initially placed in around 10 homes, each becoming a small library dedicated to different subjects. Over the years, the initiative has expanded steadily across the village. According to local volunteers associated with the project, thousands of books are now distributed across dozens of households, covering subjects ranging from literature and Kashmiri culture to science, history, and competitive examinations. Residents say the availability of books inside homes has significantly increased reading habits among children and teenagers. Villagers estimate that hundreds of students regularly access the shared collections, especially those preparing for board exams and college entrance tests who otherwise cannot afford expensive study material. Teachers in the area say school attendance and interest in education have improved noticeably over the past few years. Several students from the village have also begun appearing for higher secondary and competitive examinations with access to reference books that were previously unavailable. From educational gaps to new beginnings For years, children in Aragam struggled with limited educational opportunities . Many were forced to drop out early because of financial constraints and lack of access to study material. “I had to leave school after Class 6,” says Shahid, a 19-year-old resident, speaking to The Better India. “Now, I read books at home and tell my parents about what I learn. They listen with so much interest — it feels like I am going to school again.” Parents say the change is deeply personal. “Earlier, our children had no facilities — no books, no guidance,” says Mushtaq Ahmad, a parent. With the consent of villagers, books were initially placed in around 10 homes, each becoming a small library dedicated to different subjects. “Education was a distant dream for many of us living in these mountains. Now, books are available in our homes, and children are spending time reading instead of wandering.” This access has created new aspirations among students, especially those who now dream of pursuing higher education and preparing for competitive exams. Reviving storytelling inside homes The arrival of books has done more than improve access to knowledge — it has revived the village’s storytelling culture. In a community where oral storytelling once formed the backbone of cultural exchange, books are now adding a new dimension. Evenings in Aragam are changing. Families gather not just for routine conversations but for shared reading experiences. “Earlier, we used to tell stories from memory,” says Iqbal Ahmad, another resident. “Now our children read from books and narrate those stories to us. It has brought back storytelling in a new way.” He says the absence of facilities in the past had limited their exposure. “We grew up without books. Our children are lucky — they are learning about history, nature, and the world while sitting at home. ” Bandipora district has historically been known for its poets and literary figures. Yet villages like Aragam remained on the margins of this legacy because of geographic and socio-economic barriers. This intergenerational exchange is creating an environment where learning flows both ways — children read and explain, while elders listen, reflect, and connect stories to their own lived experiences. Reclaiming a literary identity Bandipora district has historically been known for its poets and literary figures. Yet villages like Aragam remained on the margins of this legacy because of geographic and socio-economic barriers. The book village initiative is now helping bridge that gap. By bringing books into homes, it is reconnecting the community with a tradition that once felt distant. Students say the change is visible not only in access to books but also in the identity of the village itself. “Now our village is known for both poetry and books,” says one student, adding that many students who cannot afford expensive books now have access to resources for higher education and competitive examinations. Across the village, shelves filled with books — on Kashmir’s history, Wular Lake, literature, and novels — have become symbols of this renewed identity. A community-led cultural shift The strength of Aragam’s transformation lies in community participation. Residents have embraced the idea of turning their homes into shared learning spaces. Each household plays a role in maintaining the system. Books are organised by subject, allowing students to find what they need easily. After reading, they return the books, treating them as a shared public resource. As dusk settles over Aragam and cool winds descend from the slopes of Harmukh, Irfan often sits outside his home with a borrowed book in hand while younger children gather around him to listen. The initiative has also fostered a sense of pride among villagers. “Before this, our village was known for its past linked to violence,” says Iqbal Ahmad. “Now, the narrative has changed. Children are reading, learning, and thinking about their future.” For parents, the impact is especially meaningful. Many who never had access to formal education now find themselves part of their children’s learning journeys. “Earlier, evenings were empty,” says Mushtaq Ahmad. “Now, children sit with books, and we sit with them. Sometimes they read aloud, and we listen. It feels like our homes have become schools.” As dusk settles over Aragam and cool winds descend from the slopes of Harmukh, Irfan often sits outside his home with a borrowed book in hand while younger children gather around him to listen. In a village once associated with remoteness and conflict, evenings are now increasingly shaped by reading sessions, storytelling, and conversations about education. For families who grew up without access to books, the transformation feels deeply personal. One shelf at a time, Aragam is slowly rewriting its identity — not through grand institutions, but through children who now dream beyond the mountains surrounding them.
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