From Bhilar in Maharashtra to Perumkulam in Kerala - tiny villages are transforming homes, walls, and streets into reader havens.
In 2017, Bhilar became India’s first Pustakanch Gaav (“village of books”). Maharashtra turned 35+ homes, schools, and temples into genre-themed reading hubs. Over 35,000 books now live in murals, glass cases, and even bed‑and‑breakfasts for book lovers.
Perumkulam is Kerala’s first “village of books” since June 2020. What began in 1948 as a small memorial library grew into ten roadside “book nests” - 50 books per box. Any villager can take a book and leave one in return.
Tucked beside Wular Lake, Aragam is Kashmir’s first book village. What began with a local library is now drawing readers from across the country. For villagers, books have brought both pride and new possibilities.
Not a “book village,” but grassroots magic: In Mukeri Bazaar, a vegetable-seller’s request sparked a community library run by local youth. Open daily, the shelves now serve vendors, students, and dreamers.
India lacks a strong national public library network. These book villages and libraries step in, creating free, accessible reading spaces with imagination and community at their heart.
Next time you spot a shelf in a bus stop, tea shop, or roadside box, pause. These humble libraries are daily reminders: in small spaces, stories bloom and communities grow.