Two brothers from Muradabad are trying to put the joy of reading back into children's hands, one free book at a time. Class 10 student Abhiraj Singh and his younger brother Utkarsh Singh are taking time out of their own studies to deliver books to children who need them, walking into different schools across the city and handing out books to students free of cost.
An Effort to Reconnect Children With Books
The initiative goes beyond simply giving away books. While distributing them, the brothers also ask students to set aside a little time from their daily routine for reading, no matter how busy their schedule gets. Abhiraj and Utkarsh believe education is the key to a better future, and that if children develop a reading habit early, they can go on to achieve real success in life. Their effort is being praised locally in Muradabad and is turning into an example for other young people to follow.
How the Nanhe Panhe Idea Came Together
Abhiraj Singh said he studies in Class 10 at Doon School in Dehradun. He named his initiative Nanhe Panhe, through which he is working to build a reading habit among young children. Abhiraj collects books from people and then distributes them free of cost to children, hoping to send the message that they should study and move ahead in the field of education. He said that he and his younger brother Utkarsh Singh, who is in Class 8, have always enjoyed studying and felt good about it right from childhood. "We both took a vow that we would build the same reading habit in other children too," Abhiraj Singh said. With that thought, the two brothers planned to visit schools in different places and hand out free books, and that plan is now working out.
Free Books Have Already Reached Three Schools
Abhiraj and Utkarsh are currently distributing books in various schools across Muradabad. So far, they have given out free books in three schools, and they intend to keep the drive going. The brothers plan to keep handing out free books this way so that children's interest in studying keeps growing and they can become self-reliant through education. To widen the reach of the campaign, the brothers have also built a website. Anyone can donate books through the Nanhe Panhe website, which will help Abhiraj Singh get these books to children who need them in different schools and spark a love of reading among them.
A Place for the Books in the School Library
Abhiraj Singh has planned to have these books placed in the school library, so students can set aside a little time during school hours to sit and read them. The school has also taken its own step in support, deciding to set up a dedicated library period so children can study these books during that time and gain knowledge properly. Abhiraj Singh's goal is for children in schools to take an interest in reading these books during the library period, alongside their regular studies. That is why he is distributing books across different subjects, so children get the chance to read across every subject. The larger aim of the entire drive is to build a reading and writing habit among children aged 5 to 10, since that is the age when children have the greatest capacity to learn and pick up new things.
