Village of Books | |
---|---|
Pustakanch Gaav | |
Country | India |
Type | Special library |
Established | May 4, 2017 |
Location | Bhilar, Maharashtra, India |
Pustakanch Gaav (English: Village of Books) is a special library in Bhilar, Maharashtra that opened on May 4, 2017. [1] The initiative was conceptualized and led by Vinod Tawde, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Marathi Language [2] and inaugurated by Devendra Fadnavis, Ex.Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This government initiative is inspired by Britain’s Hay-on-Wye, a notable Welsh town known for its book stores. At the time of launch, there were 25 artistically decorated locations in Bhilar that are turned into spots for readers; collectively they housed over 15,000 books [3] in 18 distinct genres. Most books were in Marathi language and there were plans to add additional 25,000 books [4] in other languages such as English, Hindi and Gujarati.
On 2021 June 19, Perumkulam, a village in Kerala’sKollam district, was declared a Pusthaka Gramam (village of books) by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The announcement made on June 19, National Reading Day, makes it Kerala’s first such village. At the heart of the announcement is its library, Bapuji Smaraka Vayanasala.
Bhilar, a village near Mahabaleshwar and [Panchgani], was finalized as the location; the long-term vision is to promote the destination as a cultural and literary hub. [5] Seventy five artists from across India traveled to Bhilar to creatively design 25 locations that were shortlisted as reading spots and exhibition centers. [6] These locations include a temple, two schools, several houses and homestays. [6]
Recitations and depictions of classic work of many renowned poets and writers are organized by community in past. Event is often grazed by dignitaries in literature field.
A special program on the occasion of Vaachan Prerna Din’, honoring the life and legacy of our former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary. Event was covered by leading Marathi news channel ABP Mazha.
Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha organized a grand commemorating in the legacy of poet Vinda Karandikar . The day was spent with beautiful recitation, poetry reading and moving monologues, with the participation of eminent dignitaries like Dr. Aruna Dhere, Jayashree Kale, Pradeep Niphadkar, Dr. Vrushali Kinhalkar, Usha Parab, Sangita Barve, Pavan Nalat, Aishwarya Patekar, Aaba Patil, Shridhar Nandedkar and participants from all across the state participated in the poetry reading.
Celebrating the love of reading through ‘Vaachan Prerna Din’, organized a special meet and greet session for the students where they got a rare opportunity to meet with authors, poets, historians and language experts who interacted with them at various location across the village.
Pustakanch Gaav has 19 libraries exclusive to 19 genres,each library is designed and decorated by freelance artists, painters and professional who believe in sending a strong social message through their artwork ; shaped and beautified the surroundings of place with detailed murals, paintings and artworks that reflect the various themes of books, genres.
Hagiography is the body of literature that describes the lives, work and veneration of the saints. The literature of hagiography embraces the biographies of saintly monks, and accounts of miracles connected with saints’ tombs, relics, icons, or statues.
Maharashtra has a rich tradition of hagiography and this temple, where the air is potent with the chimes and the words of the saints. The steady stream of devotees pay their obeisance to the beautifully decorated gods that add to the divine atmosphere of this place. And one corner stands a cupboard that holds the divine words of our saints, waiting to be examined. It hosts the books of hagiography at Pustakanch Gaav, captures its core, bringing the words of the saints, alive for the readers to seek guidance from. The overall atmosphere of this temple allows the reader a chance to introspect and turn within for seeking answers to life's big questions.
In this cozy hall of the house at Pustakanch Gaav, the readers are given a rare opportunity to connect with works of Manik Sitaram Godghate (popularly known as Kavi Grace ), Shanta Shelke and many eminent poets that have enriched the Marathi literature with their works. Even in this highly commercialized world, the readers can rediscover the sensitivity hidden in the written word, through poetry.
At Pustakanch Gaav, there is a home that host newspapers in the Marathi language, for the readers who are a fan of literature in hurry. This section hosts local and leading newspapers in the state made available for the delight of the readers. The open courtyard of the house and the streaming sunlight through the window provide a perfect setting for a day spent lazing in piles of newspapers, and endless cups of tea.
Spread over two kilometers, Bhilar is located at a distance of eight kilometers from Panchgani. It is situated just about 17 kilometers away from the sub-district headquarter Mahabaleshwar, which is a notable tourist spot in Maharashtra. Other major cities around Bhilar include Satara, Pune and Mumbai. Bhilar has an estimated population of 5,000 and is a major producing hub of strawberries. Pustakanch Gaav is accessible by road, rail and air transport.
There are various private buses, cabs and taxi services from Pune and Mumbai. Bhilar village is only 17 km from Mahabaleshwar.
The nearest railway station is Satara which is 56 kilometers away from Bhilar. Nearest major railway junctions include Pune (148 km) and Miraj (188 km).
The nearest airport is Pune International Airport, which is about 118 km from Bhilar. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport of Mumbai is 259 km away.
Mahabaleshwar is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus because Krishna river has its origin here. The British colonial rulers developed the town as a hill station, and served as the summer capital of Bombay Presidency during the British Raj.
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India, near the confluence of the river Krishna and its tributary, the Venna. The city was established in the 16th century and was the seat of the Chhatrapati of Maratha Empire, Shahu I. It is the headquarters of Satara Tehsil, as well as the Satara District. The city gets its name from the seven forts (Sat-Tara) which are around the city. The city is known as a Soldier's city as well as Pensioner's city.
Panchgani, called Paachgani (in Marathi), is a hill station and municipal council in Satara district in Maharashtra, India. Panchgani attracts tourists throughout the year. It is also known for having many boarding schools.
Pratapgad is a mountain fort located in Satara district, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra.The fort is situated 24 kilometres from the Mahabaleshwar hill station. The fort is now a popular tourist destination.
Wai is a town in Satara district of Maharashtra state in India. Located on the Krishna River, Wai was a prominent town during the Peshwa era. Two important Maratha Brahmin from ruling families had their origins here: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Gopikabai, wife of Nanasaheb Peshwa.
Satara district is a district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of 10,480 km2 (4,050 sq mi) and a population of 3,003,741 of which 14.17% were urban. Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Medha, Wai, Karad, Koregaon, Maan, Koynanagar, Rahimatpur, Phaltan, Mahabaleshwar, Vaduj and Panchgani. This district comes under Pune Administrative Division along with Pune, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur. The district of Pune bounds it to the north, Raigad bounds it to the north-west, Solapur the east, Sangli to the south, and Ratnagiri to the west.
Mahad is a city in Raigad district situated in the North Konkan region of Maharashtra state, India. It is located 108.5 km (67.4 mi) from District's headquarter Alibag, and 167 km (104 mi) from Mumbai. Mahad is known for Raigad Fort, the capital of the Maratha Empire in Shivaji's era and the revolutionary Mahad Satyagraha launched by at Chavdar Tale in the wake of modern India.
Karad is a city in Satara district of Indian state of Maharashtra and it is 320 km (180.19 miles) from Mumbai, 72 km From Sangli and 159 km from Pune. It lies at the confluence of Koyna River and the Krishna River known as the "Priti sangam". The two rivers originate at Mahabaleshwar, which is around 100 km from Karad. They diverge at their origin, and travel for about the same distance to meet again in Karad. The rivers meet exactly head on, thus forming letter "T" which is the only head on confluence in the world. Hence Krishna and Koyna river's confluence is called Preeti Sangam, meaning Confluence of Love. Karad is well known for sugar production and is known as the sugar bowl of Maharashtra owing to the presence of many sugar factories in and around Karad. It is considered as an important educational hub in Western Maharashtra due to the presence of many prestigious educational institutes. This place is also known for resting place or (Samadhi) of the first chief minister of Maharashtra Shri. Yashwantrao Chavan situated at the confluence of Krishna and Koyana river.
Koregaon is a census town and headquarters for the surrounding Koregaon Taluka in the Satara subdivision of Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated on the NH-548C Satara-Baitul National Highway about 18 km east of Satara city, about 120 km from Pune and 267 km from Mumbai. The Koregaon railway station, situated on the Pune - Miraj line, is 2 kilometers outside the town. At a stone's throw from the railway station is Koregaon Bus Station.
Maharashtra attracts tourists from other Indian states and foreign countries. It was the second most visited Indian state by foreigners and fifth most visited state by domestic tourists in the country in 2021. Aurangabad is the tourism capital of Maharashtra.
Balakrishna Bhagwant Borkar was a poet from Goa, India.
Kudal (कुडाळ) is a village in the Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is surrounded by a river called Niranjana or Kudali. There is a big temple of 'Pimpleshwar & Wakadeshwar' at the river coast. Agriculture is the main land use in the village, with more than 75% of the total area being used for agricultural activities. The village has a close view to the historic Vairatgad Fort. It is central for 15 villages situated nearby Kudal Village.
Dhom Dam is an earthfill and gravity dam on Krishna river near Wai in state of Maharashtra in India. Its co-ordinates are 17.9815° N, 73.7954° E.
Awalan is a small village located in Mahabaleshwar taluka of Satara district.
Ninam is a census village in Satara district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a village surrounded by greenery and farms but also mountains. Agriculture is the main land use in the village with more than 75% of the total area being used for agricultural activities. The village close to historic Ajinkyatara fort, which is to the north. The large Jyotirlinga temple is in the center of the village.
Old Mahabaleshwar, also known as Kshetra Mahabaleshwar, is a historical village in Mahabaleshwar, of the Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located near the Western Ghats, seven kilometers from Mahabaleshwar. It is home to three temples: the Panchganga temple, Mahabaleshwar temple, and Krishna temple.
Garavadi (Ramnagar) is a census village in the Satara district, which is located in the India state of Maharashtra. There are a total of approximately 240 families residing within its borders. The village is located in the Khatav Tehsil of Satara district in Maharashtra, India. It is 32 km away from the sub-district headquarters of Vaduj, and 54 km away from the district headquarters of Satara. Research from 2009 shows that Garavadi village is also classified as a gram panchayat. According to the India Census in 2011, the village was recorded to have a population of 997, 478 of which were males, and the other 519 females.
Vele is a village in the Western region of Maharashtra state in India. It is located in Satara district of Maharashtra. Before it was a part of Bombay State and Princely state of Satara. It is located adjacent to Kanher Dam built on Venna River. There is a big temple of Bhairava at the village entrance. Also there are number of temples in closed vicinity of village. Surrounded by greenery and farms, agriculture is the main occupation in the village with more than 80% of the total area being used for agricultural activities. Though agriculture constitutes a mainstay of the economy of this village, besides a sizeable population working at various plum government positions does bolster the financial position.
Bhilar is a village in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Lalgun is a village in the Satara district of the state of Maharashtra in India. It is located on Pusegaon-Phaltan State Highway and comes under Koregaon assembly constituency and Satara Parliamentary constituency. Lalgun has a population of about 2930.