Libraries without locks: How BHC India is putting books into every hand | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a world driven by screens, a quiet reading revolution is taking place in Delhi.

The Book in Hand Campaign (BHC India), launched in August 2023, is giving thousands of people access to free books, with no ID, fee, or fine.

It’s a trust-based, youth-led movement bringing stories to life across parks, slums, and campuses.

Led by the youth-driven CELL Foundation, BHC has set up six open libraries across Delhi-NCR.

From parks and slums to university campuses, anyone can walk in and borrow a book. They only need to provide a name, number, and address.

The idea started with a simple thought: many people have unused books, and others can’t afford them.

That led to the first library in Gandhi Vihar, which sparked a city-wide movement. Now, the campaign has over 2,500 books and has reached more than 5,000 readers.

Despite having no formal funding, BHC runs on donations, volunteers, and community trust. It began with 200 donated books, and support has grown through word of mouth and goodwill.

The heart of BHC is trust. While many feared books would disappear, only 3–4% go unreturned. Most people return them, even late, proving trust works.

The impact is real. Children in bastis now read regularly. Students say their screen time has reduced. Families borrow books for the elders.

Volunteers grow in confidence and purpose. Many readers say it’s their first chance to read books they couldn’t afford.

However, challenges remain. Open-air setups suffer during monsoons and summers. There’s also a shortage of quality Hindi books, especially for children.

Still, founders Pratik and Anurag remain committed. They call it a mission rather than a project. Their dream is to take BHC across India and beyond.

By building trust and spreading stories, BHC India proves that access to knowledge doesn’t need locks, money, or permission, just belief in people.

Image by Alexei (other) from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on December 17, 2020

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1635093