Discover the Hidden Gem of Bhadrak: A Library That Defies the Digital Age
A Unique Library in Bhadrak
Bhubaneswar/Bhadrak: While many libraries nationwide face challenges in attracting readers amidst the rise of digital media, a small yet remarkable library in Bhadrak district tells a different tale. Established through the dedication of one individual, Loknath Pathagara ‘o’ Sangrahalaya has transformed from a humble village library into a repository boasting over 35,000 books and invaluable historical artifacts.
Founded in 1990 by Bikash Kumar Satapathy, a postgraduate in Odia literature, this library honors his great-grandfather. Motivated by the efforts of library advocate Dasharathi Pattnaik, affectionately known as Dasia Aja, Satapathy began with merely 15 periodicals in a modest setting.
Today, it stands as one of the best-maintained privately operated libraries and museums in Odisha, featuring a collection that includes over 35,000 books and magazines, alongside thousands of rare manuscripts and historical items. The museum's extensive collection reflects centuries of Odisha's vibrant heritage.
The library's impressive collection features over 1,200 palm-leaf manuscripts, more than 1,100 rare coins from India and abroad, discontinued postal stamps, vintage radios, traditional lanterns, marine fossils, tribal weapons, antique weighing scales, and many other artifacts that tell the story of the region's cultural journey. For Satapathy, preserving history is just one aspect of his mission.
Equally vital is fostering a love for reading among the youth. He has written children's books like ‘Shukh ila Gachhara Dashti Patra O Dashti Phula’ and ‘Kau Koili’, and in 1996, he launched the children’s magazine ‘Baichadei’ to promote reading among young audiences. Located in Ward No. 12 of Basudevpur Municipality, the library and museum are accessible free of charge to students, researchers, and visitors.
Satapathy also spearheads the “Mobile Chhada, Bahi Padha” (Leave the Mobile, Read a Book) initiative, traveling to schools and villages with free books and exhibitions of rare artifacts to encourage children to rediscover the joy of reading.
What makes this initiative commendable is its growth without any government funding. “All my earnings from performing puja-paath go towards purchasing books and maintaining the library,” Satapathy shares.
“Books should not just sit idle in cupboards; they are meant to be read. My aspiration is to cultivate readers and inspire children to develop a passion for books.” More than just a library or museum, Loknath Pathagara ‘o’ Sangrahalaya has become a vibrant archive of Odisha’s collective memory.