Silent literary revolution
The adivasis have taken to reading books from a library
By : abhish k. bose
Update: 2014-10-17 05:28 GMT
KOTTAYAM: Deep inside the forests of Idukki district, a silent literary revolution is taking place. The adivasis belonging to the Muthuvan tribal community in the Munnar forest reserve have taken to reading books from a library which is set up in the third ward of the Edamalakudy panchayat in Iruppukalkudy, almost 46 km from Munnar.
The library was started by Muralidharan, a single school teacher, in the house of Chinnathampy, a Muthuvan, at Iruppukalkudy with only five books in July 2012. It now has 638 Malayalam titles which have been donated by people from all over the state. A book rack was contributed by journalists K.A. Shaji and I.V. Babu, says Muralidharan.
“Forty adivasis, including six women, are now members of the ‘Akshara Arts and Sports Club Library.’ There are also books translated into Malayalam from other languages,” Muralidharan told Deccan Chronicle.
The members of the library take at least a month to read a book. “Most of them have no experience of reading, but they return the books without damage after reading them. Some old people who knew only Tamil have requested us to get books in Tamil,” Muralidharan added.
The books which are in great demand include Kathasaritha Sagaram, Padatha Painkili of Muttathu Varkey, translation of ‘Wings of Fire’ by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and ‘Khasakintey Ithihasam (Legends of Khasak) by O.V. Vijayan.
A tribal, Muthuaraman, has even read ‘Bharatha Paryadanam’ authored by Kuttikrishna Marar. Muralidharan said that the state library council had promised to give grants for the construction of a new library building and for the purchase of more books.