21/08/2026
A Library Built on the Memory of a Father and the Power of Reading
Lt. Biswajit Gupta Memorial Library in Silchar seeks to build a culture of reading, sharing and community service
Silchar, August 21: In an age when screens often compete with books for attention, a small community-focused library in Malugram, Silchar, is trying to bring people back to the simple joy of reading.
The Lt. Biswajit Gupta Memorial Library, located at House No. 15, Old Kalibari Road, in Malugram, is being developed in memory of Lt. Biswajit Gupta, a banker, student leader, union leader and cultural enthusiast whose love for people and belief in human potential continue to inspire the initiative.
The library is open to students, parents, young people, homemakers, retired citizens and working professionals. It aims to provide a peaceful space where people can read, reflect, learn and spend quality time.
The collection includes books purchased and collected by the family over several decades, along with books donated by well-wishers and members of the public from different parts of the world.
The library will offer a reading area and membership facilities. Members can also reserve books through WhatsApp and take part in online book review meetings.
Annual membership is priced at ₹300 and includes a one-year subscription to the KRC TIMES e-copy. The library also allows non-members to access its facilities during specified hours.
Books are normally issued for a maximum of seven days. Members returning a book can borrow another title immediately. Those wishing to borrow more than one book at a time need to provide a refundable security deposit equal to 50 per cent of the book's value for each additional book.
The library also encourages members to donate books and share short video reviews on social media to encourage others to read.
One of the distinctive ideas behind the project is its focus on sharing and recycling books.
Under its book club initiative, titled “Read, Recycle, Reach, Reuse, Rejoice,” people are encouraged to donate gently used books and give them a new life.
Visitors can also take up to two complimentary books from the donated collection.
The KRC Foundation plans to recycle donated books by distributing them to schools and colleges every month. The idea is simple: read a book and then pass it on to a friend, family member or back to the library so that another reader can enjoy it.
The library also provides internship opportunities for students who want to contribute to building a stronger reading culture.
Prof. Manoj Kumar Sinha, Dean of the Swami Vivekanand School of Library Sciences at Assam University, has commended the establishment of a new community library. Prof. Sinha praised the initiative as a noble effort that offers a dedicated reading space for youth, provides a valuable community hub for elders, and preserves a cherished legacy for future generations.
Membership can be obtained online by filling out the Google Form: https://bit.ly/LBGMLmembership
The library is expected to become fully operational from mid-September onwards.