Libraries of Lashkar languish in neglect

Secunderabad: Colonies are upscale, people are trendy, ambiance is pluralistic and history glorious; yet something is amiss. Yes, though everything looks spic and span, the plight of libraries in Secunderabad Cantonment is pitiable. Once prominent, the four major libraries are, in fact, crying for attention.

Look at this: The Trimulgherry library is next to a dump yard, it’s been ages since Bolarum and Macha Bolarum libraries received new books and the Bowenpally library is cramped for want of space. The sad part is, all the libraries put together do not get even more than 300 readers a day.

Venkataramana, a resident of Malani Enclave said, “We gave several representations to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) to move the Trimulgherry library to another location as it is impossible to sit inside the library. We also took the issue to the notice of Ward No 7 member Bhagyashree earlier this year, but there is no action.”

The Trimulgherry library was constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh but has turned out to be a wasted asset. No one wishes to visit the library due to the unbearable stench emanating from the dump yard in the close vicinity.

Scores of lorries move about the place transporting garbage. Nagaveni, librarian, Trimulgherry library, says, “It is three years since we received new books. After the formation of the State, each library was given a set of 36 books on the history of Telangana but after that we have not received any new book.”

Ravikanth Reddy, a resident of Alwal, says that library cess should be removed as no one uses the facility as there is hardly any book worth a read and most of them are falling to pieces.

The Bowenpally library is crammed for space and the visitors always struggle for space. The SCB is spread over 41 sq km but is short of land for libraries. As a senior official puts it, “There is hardly any land available for libraries and we are forced to run the existing libraries in the same condition.”

There is a huge decline in the number of visitors to the State-run libraries in Secunderabad Cantonment. The four libraries at Bolarum, Macha Bolarum, Bowenpally and Trimulgherry hardly get any visitor except for septuagenarians and retired employees. Susai, a resident of Macha Bolarum says, “I do not see a single youngster coming to the library and it pains me. I studied just up to Grade 10 but thanks to the reading habit, I can talk about any topic at any forum.”

On an average just about 20-60 persons visit each of the libraries in the cantonment. Some of the libraries date back to the British period and have a rich history. For instance, the Bolarum Reading Room was once the most sought-after library, but now is a pale shadow of its former self. Devraj, a retired railway employee asks, “Where have the readers gone? I understand that there are e-books but can it replace the joy of reading a novel by flipping the pages?”