Maharashtra Expands Book Village Initiative Following Bhilar's Success

Discover Bhilar, India's first 'Village of Books,' where 35 houses host 40,000 books, promoting reading amidst scenic beauty and rich Marathi literature.

on Dec 10, 2024

In 2017, the residents of Bhilar, a quiet village near the scenic Panchgani hill station, embarked on a mission to encourage the reading habit, which has declined in the digital era. Seven years later, Bhilar’s recognition as India’s first ‘Pustakache Gaav’ (village of books) has soared significantly.

Motivated by the influx of visitors that Bhilar attracts and the locals' ability to maintain the reading promotion, the Maharashtra government initiated a similar 'book village' in Pombhurle (Sindhudurg) in March this year, with plans to extend the initiative to Verul (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar), Navegaon Bandh (Nagpur), Ankalkhop (Sangli), and Amalner (Jalgaon).

“Bhilar has set a standard for inspiring individuals to embrace reading. The government’s goal is to establish similar projects in at least one village per district throughout the state,” stated Dr. Shamkant Deore, director of Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha, Maharashtra.

Describing the process for establishing book villages, Deore explained that government officials first identify villages that have a strong literary culture. “For example, Amalner is the birthplace of Sane Guruji, the author of the autobiography Shyamchi Aai, considered one of the finest tributes to a mother’s devotion. We are also considering the tourism aspect. Navegaon Bandh in Nagpur is already a popular tourist spot due to its natural allure, and setting up a book village there will attract even more visitors,” he mentioned.

The Sanstha then collaborates with the gram panchayat and the village sarpanch, who identify 10-15 homes suitable for stocking books and creating a reading-room environment, according to Deore.

In Bhilar, the state’s Marathi language department prepared a collection of over 15,000 books across various genres. These books were distributed among 25 houses in the village, which were painted anew to make them visually distinct. Currently, the village comprises 35 houses that collectively host 40,000 books.

The Bhilar book village was designed in a manner similar to Hay-on-Wye, a town in Wales renowned for its bookstores. Vinod Tawde, who was the state minister of cultural affairs, initiated the book village project. Today, the village draws visitors from all over the state and even from other regions of the country. Furthermore, schools ensure that they bring their students to these home libraries. “Over the years, approximately 5-6 lakh people have visited the village,” says Balaji Halde, project assistant for Bhilar Pustakache Gaav.

Vinash Pawar, a small-scale industrialist from Murbad in Thane, recently visited Bhilar with friends. “This is my first visit, and I am truly captivated. We have heard so much about Pustakache Gaav, and the efforts here are incredibly important for preserving Marathi literature,” he remarked.

Motivated by Bhilar's success, Pawar intends to initiate a similar project in Murbad. “It’s an innovative concept where villagers can offer space in their homes to encourage others to come in and read. We aspire to do something like that in Murbad,” he added.

Visitors continuously arrive at the home of Saraswati and Prashant Bhilare in Bhilar, many eager to see their extensive collection of books related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “We have nearly 800 books about the legendary Maratha emperor,” Prashant states. Thus, this delightful hill station remains a sanctuary where nature’s beauty and the joy of reading coexist harmoniously.