Meet “The Library Man of Bengal”

A man is on a mission and his mission is a bit different. This man is on a mission to build libraries in spite of all odds, makes Nazimuddin Hazari different from others. Hazari is better known among his circle as the man who is single-handedly trying to materialize his dream to establish a model library with books from all around the globe. His aim is to spread knowledge and not to restrict it. He dreams to make many such model libraries in the near future.

58 years old Nazimuddin Hazari is a librarian who works in a private company in Kolkata, but his untiring efforts for years to build a library came into light, when he successfully raised a library building in his native village with the support of West Bengal Government.  His work has been registered as a non-governmental organisation project in the year 2000. For the last 18 years, apart from lending books; this NGO is creating space and building opportunities for children to study without any problem. This organization which is named as “Shashwata Suchetana Gramin Pathanagar”  they have been doing other activities which include Distribution, Text Book, Medical camps, eye check-up etc.

This year too in a 2-day programme, more than 100 students of class 9 and 10 were given books for the year, meanwhile junior section students like class 1to 4 were given notebooks and other stationary gifts. A health camp was organised for the senior citizens of the village and more than 86 people were benefitted from it. Philanthropist and Former Union secretary Sri Ram Bandopahyay launched a Half yearly newspaper named as “Kalantan” during the annual programme.

Library

Well, the idea to build a library sprung up, when Nazimuddin Hazari came to Kolkata in the year 1975 as a school kid to support his father who had a bakery business and to study in this city. But for young Nazimuddin, although he studied in Kolkata, his loyalty remained to his native village. His heart broke every time he thought about the under-privileged children from his village, but his silent cry was never heard. So, whenever he visited his village he used to buy extra books from his own little bit of money, which he received as pocket money and gave them to his friends and other children of the village.After completing his schooling from Kolkata Modern School, he joined Surendranath College as a chemistry honours student, and passed with flying colours. This was not the end of the story, his interest in books made him pursue bachelor’s degree in Library Science from Jadavpur University and after successfully completing the Bachelor degree he joined a private company, where he currently works as Librarian. During his student days, he came across many luminaries who motivated him in his mission. While speaking with Jiyo Bangla, he said, “My ideologies and passion to read came from JU days. It was in Jadavpur, that my ideas of creating a library took shape. I thought instead of simply giving away books to children in my village one-on-one, why not to have place or a library where they all can come and read books and open their mind in the world of learning.

Later when he joined the job as a librarian, he saved from his salary to build a library in his village near Khanakul in Hoogly district.  While speaking to us, he said, “Support from individuals and organization started pouring in. Generally help started pouring in when I started with my idea. Mira Bhattacharya, the wife of Former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya came forward and helped me; even their daughter Suchetana gave away her books from her personal book collection which she received as birthday gifts. With her books I started our library in the year 2002.”

The mission finally took shape in the year 2002 and now with the support of many, the library was built on the land owned by an uncle of Nizamuddin, which he had donated to him. Computer facilities with two computers are established for village children. With the increasing and costly demand for education, most of the students in the village are unable toaffor education. Students in the village have made this library their study house, but for the “Library man” Nazimuddin who also wants make many such libraries to keep up his on-going fight. For him it is important to carry forward the lamp of Knowledge and promote education. We in Jiyo Bangla, support his cause and believe in his future ideas. 

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