Teen founder Agastya, 17, opens 40th library, empowering Delhi's underprivileged

Agastya, who founded this public-spirited initiative, was awarded the 2023 Excellence Award by the Delhi Government for initiating the 'Reach to Read' programme and for transforming education by setting up libraries in municipality-run government schools.

In Short

• Agastya, 17, transformed education in Delhi's slums
• Started 'Reach to Read' with a small book drive
• Now has 39 libraries serving 17,000 students

At just 17, Agastya transformed the educational landscape for underprivileged children in Delhi through his ‘Reach to Read’ initiative. Starting with a small book drive, his project has grown into a network of 39 libraries serving over 17,000 students in urban slums and government schools. For his efforts in making knowledge accessible to thousands, Agastya was awarded the 2023 Excellence Award by the Delhi Government, marking a significant milestone as he opens the 40th library under his initiative.

Agastya, who founded this public-spirited initiative, was awarded the 2023 Excellence Award by the Delhi Government for initiating the ‘Reach to Read’ programme and for transforming education by setting up libraries in municipality-run government schools. His mission is empowering students who want more than just what’s available in their classroom with outside sources of both knowledge and the opportunity to explore.

In a span of 3 years, Agastya, who is now 17, has been able to establish a network of 39 libraries which service over 17000 beneficiaries – with an average number of more than 7000 beneficiaries availing its services every day, it’s clearly something that has been a crucially missing element in the lives of those who can currently access this service. “While I’m blessed with accessible libraries in school and home, I knew not everyone had the means or access. I wanted to find a way to make books easily available to as many children as possible” says Agastya.

The libraries have recently begun to turn into community development centres and some have become an avenue to educate children and youth on many social and health issues like menstrual health, road safety, seasonal diseases, awareness on good touch/ bad touch, ‘say no to single use plastic’ and other social initiatives that enthuse children in Delhi.

Seeing some children struggle to read, Agastya has started raising funds to start remedial classes for those children who need assisted learning. This is the first time such an initiative has been introduced in government schools in Delhi, and he is primed to get yet another award for this contribution.

A passion for reading, which was fuelled by the isolation of the covid, Agastya realised his love for reading and access to books kept him happy and fulfilled. “Reading has always been something I have loved and during covid, it became an escape. I lost track of time when I read and found I was in a more positive state of mind. The negativity of the situation we were all in, didn’t consume me when I was absorbed in a story. I felt motivated and realised the positive impact it had on my mental health. “