Bhubaneswar(Kalinga Voice) : Visitors to the new and improved Ekamra Haat have a new attraction. An open, out-of-the-box library. It is out of the box indeed as an old refrigerator for beverages with a glass door has been reused as a library. This has attractive artwork on the outside with Pattachitra motifs being used to promote the idea of reading.
This library has been set up by BAKUL Foundation in partnership with theState Institute for Development of Arts and Crafts under the guidance of the Department of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, Govt. of Odisha. It was inaugurated by Mr R Balakrishnan, Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister of Odisha on 14th November, Children’s Day in the presence of Ms Shubha Sarma, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts,Mr Sisir Kumar Rath, Member Secretary, SIDAC and Mr. Sujit Mahapatra, Founder,Bakul Foundation among others.
This refrigerator library has about 200 books. This includes books in both Odiaand English, books for different ages of children and for adults as well. It is unmanned and anyone can pick up a book and sit down on the grass or on the seats in the area. People hanging out at the Haat have books for company now. Visitors can enjoy the food stalls serving different cuisines from across India and also indulge in shopping at the 50 + craft stalls. Moreover, children and adults, accompanying shoppers but uninterested in shopping themselves, now have books to engage them. Anyone can donate a book also there.
The Dept. of HT&H has taken the initiative to popularise and showcase the crafts heritage of Odisha through regular events in Ekamra Haat. Bakul Foundation has been running a library movement in the state to promote reading with public contributions. It has been attempting to bring books to public spaces and has set up a library inside Biju Patnaik Park as part of that attempt. In the park also, Bakul has set up an open tree library, where one can similarly pick up and read books at any time. It had also experimented with similar fridge libraries in primary schools in Ganjam as its Phailin response.
Ekamra Haat is equipped with an outdoor amphitheatre that hosts cultural events among others. A mix of crafts, weaves, food, culture and now books, Ekamra Haat caters to visitors from all walks of life.
The Haat opens from 10 am to 9 pm every day. The open library will be accessible during the functioning hours of Ekamra Haat.
