Libraries spring up at Tikri border

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, February 24

To keep the flame of protest burning, farmers camping at the Tikri border have been drawing inspiration from books based on agitations and teachings of Sikh Gurus, and biographies of revolutionaries.

Social outfits from Punjab have set up seven makeshift libraries at the border. Books in Hindi, English and Punjabi are available free of cost.

Aamin, a student from Ludhiana who runs Shaheed Bhagat Singh Library, said: “Farmers at the Tikri border love reading books on Marxism, Sikhism and peasants’ movements, and biographies of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Udham Singh, and Kartar Singh Sarabha and Sir Chhotu Ram. The books not only inspire them, but also help them pass time.”

About 500 books are available in his library. He lends about 50 books every day. Some farmers prefer reading books in the makeshift library.

Gurpal, a farmer from Sangrur, said libraries were proving a morale booster for protesting farmers. They have a good opportunity to study about revolutionaries, different religions and previous agitations.

“These days, I am reading Kartar Singh Sarabha, who was one of the heroes of the freedom struggle. The writings of Sarabha, Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries are a source of inspiration for farmers,” he added.

Sangrur native Gurpreet Singh Kaler, who runs ‘Nanak Hut’ library, said farmers poetry based on farmers’ plight and their life was liked by many. “Poetry of Pash and Sant Ram Udasi is in high demand,” he added.