Just like with any other start-up, being the sole founder of Let’s Open a Book means I play multiple roles. I’m the organization’s storyteller, library educator, resident artist and art teacher, dance teacher, trainer, operations head, fundraiser, accountant, social media manager, PR person, cleaner etc etc all rolled into one. I am required to switch […]
A woman with many hats! Read More »
In a couple of weeks’ time, I’ll be on my way to Spiti. As I prepare for the long, challenging journey ahead, I think back to all the times I’ve travelled to Spiti. My first trip to Spiti was in 2017. At that time, I was completely mesmerised by the breathtaking views. Over the years,
Another Spitian summer is coming to a close. Night-time temperatures have started dipping to sub-zero and the first snow of the season has already fallen. Water, electricity and phone network issues have all started cropping up, as is common for this time of the year. I have been winding up my work here; it is
And what a day it was! We had 150 people show up, a huge number by Spiti standards. This was about five times the people that we were prepared to host, and fifteen times of our average daily footfall. Most of them were children, who started showing up in groups an hour before the opening
Our new free community library space for Let’s Open a Book, which we’ve been slowly setting up over the last month, opens in a few hours. The inauguration is going to be a humble event, but I’m anxious. I’m sitting here alone, mentally reviewing the arrangements for the day. I can’t help but think of
Embracing Imperfections Read More »
I was recently felicitated for the work we’re doing at Let’s Open a Book. This happened at the La Darcha fair, a multi-day festival celebrating the historical trade relations between different Himalayan regions. The award was presented by Ravi Thakur Lauhal Spiti, organized by Himachal Ekta Munch. I was one of the 30 women who
Felicitation at Ladarcha Mela Read More »
Finally, after months of scouting, we’ve found a new library space in Kaza (Spiti Valley) for Let’s Open a Book. It is a four-room space that will have separate reading rooms for children and adults. This is a significant upgrade from the one and a half rooms that we had previously been operating from. The
Hear from our volunteer Neha Bhatt about her volunteering experience at our library in Kaza, Spiti Valley.
Volunteer Experience – Neha Bhatt Read More »
