Panchkula: For generations of students in Kalka, the Gandhi Memorial Municipal Library has been more than just a building lined with books. It has been a quiet refuge for readers, job aspirants and young minds chasing opportunities. But nearly 77 years after it was established, the historic institution today finds itself struggling with a shortage of basic facilities, outdated infrastructure and a long-pending promise of upgradation.The library, one of Kalka’s oldest public institutions, is grappling with inadequate furniture, a shortage of staff and a lack of updated books, particularly for competitive examinations. Students say the absence of modern study resources often leaves them with little choice but to travel to neighbouring cities or rely on private libraries and costly study material.What has particularly frustrated residents is the fact that the demand to upgrade the library to subdivision-level status has remained stuck in administrative files since 2008. Nearly 18 years later, the proposal is yet to materialise.Over the years, the library has witnessed multiple administrative transitions. Initially functioning under the Kalka municipal committee, it later came under the municipal corporation after 2010 and has been managed by the Kalka municipal council since the council’s formation in 2020. Despite these changes, residents say little has improved on the ground.Inside the library, signs of neglect are difficult to miss. Students often struggle to find sufficient seating, while much of the furniture has aged without replacement. Resource constraints faced by the municipal council have further limited efforts to improve infrastructure and services.Yet the library’s significance goes far beyond its present condition.According to Vijay Bansal, president of the Shivalik Vikas Manch, the institution is deeply intertwined with Kalka’s social and educational history. Nearly eight decades ago, local social worker Kapoor Chand Jain purchased land and donated it for the establishment of a public library dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Memorial Municipal Library was formally inaugurated on April 19, 1949, by the then Ambala commissioner, Nawab Singh.Residents believe the library deserves preservation as well as modernisation.In a memorandum submitted to Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, Bansal urged the govt to grant the library subdivision-level status, arguing that the move could transform it into a modern learning hub. The proposal envisions a facility equipped with the latest competitive examination books, a digital library, e-learning infrastructure, high-speed internet connectivity, newspapers and journals, along with adequate seating and study spaces.Supporters of the move say the biggest beneficiaries would be students from economically weaker families, many of whom cannot afford private libraries or expensive coaching resources. For them, a well-equipped public library could become an important bridge to higher education and employment opportunities.
