I have been a woman who loves to write. I have been writing from class six. The contents might have varied since then, but the passion is still the same, or has risen more than in those times.
While I write, I feel I am exploring myself. In the process of writing, I also discover something more; the things that were inside me, but unknown.
From writing everyday activities on my personal diary, to writing blogs in the personal website for more than four years, I am improving. Recently I finished my Bachelors in Agricultural Engineering. While waiting for my result, I had two months vacation. I came to know about the library run by Bikalpa- An Alternative. It is a think-tank, whose director is Sir Basanta Adhikari. I had participated in some of the workshops and boot-camps organized by them.
To occupy myself with the free time, I went to the library and asked for a suggestion. The brothers in the library are really kind. They suggested me a lot of books. Suman Khalingbrother suggested me my first book. I got ‘A journey to the self’ by Luna Thakur Shrestha as my first book. It was so amazing I completed it overnight. I started visiting library again and again, and with every new book,I started to enjoy my free time.
It doesn’t mean I didn’t read books before I came to know about the library, my father is fond of books too.He used to bring a lot of books to the home. I had read some of the novels from the home. But, when you have a stack of options in the library, you become more open towards something of your interest rather than reading a random book at home.
While I wrote all these years; I was expressing my views and opinions, of what I learnt through my experiences,problems, successes, failures, and travels. But when I started reading, I started to visualize others point of views too. This added another essence to my life. When you write, your knowledge remains same, but when you read,your knowledge broadens. This enlightened me.
“Read more because knowledge is power.”
“A book can take you to each and every corner of the world without moving a single inch.”
I started asking for more suggestions, and every time I was on the trip, I took a book with me. This made my solo journeys much more interesting.
It would be impossible for anyone to buy a new book in every two days. When there is a library around you, you can give some books a try.
This Deusi-Bhailo, we volunteered to collect books for the library too. We played deusi for two days in Tihar of 2018, and asked for books or donation for the library. We were able to collect a lot of books, donations, and blessings. It not just provided us happiness, but immense pleasure to work for the library that provides us to read books for free.
With the reading habit, I have discovered that my writing skill has improved too. I have learned some new words, some new techniques of writing, and thanks to the Bikalpa-Library,I have been able to do this in a free time, which I would eventually waste if not for the books.
Recently, I have been appointed as an author for a website where I get paid for my articles and creativity. It has been an awesome part time job. I have got a platform to work for something that I am confident at.
Thank you Bikalpa-An Alternative team, you guys are doing a great job. The library has been providing the service since 2014. They started with a rack with ten books and today with the team’s effort, the library serves with more than thousand books.
The library is located at Mahendra Chowk, Biratnagar. Anyone despite the age, gender or class, can visit the library from 10 to 5 and from Sundays to Fridays and receive a book at a time.If you have read a book already and it stays at your home with no more of a use, you can donate it to the library, and eventually your book will be into many hands and people will thank you for that.
Why not visit the library today and make a good habit of reading, just like me?
I thank you Bikalpa-An Alternative, for such an amazing platform for us to utilize our time. We need more people like you. Thank you.
Er. Aleena Rayamajhi
Field Survey Coordinator, GiZ
1/13/2019
