Inauguration of the Mahadev Desai Library Extension and Reading Room of the Library

I touch and salute the holy feet of Bharat Mata – the Most Powerful and the Most Merciful.

President, Harijan Sevak Sangh, Prof. Dr. Sankar Kumar Sanyal Ji, Former MP & Vice President of Harijan Sevak Sangh, Shri Naresh Yadav Ji, Vice President of Harijan Sevak Sangh, Shri Laxmi Dass Ji, Former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Shri Raju Parmar Ji, and others.

I am pleased to be here today at the sacred premises of Gandhi Ashram, for the inauguration of the Extended Library and Reading Room of the Mahadev Desai Library. The Gandhi Ashram is a sacred and historic place where Mahatma Gandhiji had lived during his stay to Delhi in the 1930s and 1940s. Several important meetings during India’s freedom struggle were held here. The Mahadev Desai Library carries a legacy that is inseparable from the values of Mahatma Gandhi Ji. The inauguration today is not only a physical extension of a library; it is the reaffirmation of a powerful idea—that knowledge is the most enduring instrument of social transformation. Mahadev Desaiji was not only Gandhiji’s devoted secretary and interpreter but also a thinker and writer, who ensured that Gandhian thought reached the masses with clarity and integrity.

A library bearing his name must, therefore, stand as a living institution one that encourages inquiry, reflection, and moral courage. Our visionary Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji has also always placed great emphasis on preservation of knowledge and its outreach and dissemination This library, I am sure, would work in that direction. The Harijan Sevak Sangh , founded by Mahatma GandhiJi himself in 1932, has done commendable work in the eradication of social inequality through education, awareness, and access to knowledge. From basic literacy to higher learning, from social reform to intellectual empowerment, the Sangh has consistently worked to ensure that learning reaches those who need it the most. One of the most remarkable landmark in the history of the Sangh is that Late Shri K.R. Narayanan ji, former President of India got his education through a residential Ashram School of the Sangh at Kerala.  The Sangh further helped him in his higher studies and Late Shri K.R. Narayanan ji had acknowledged his gratitude to the Sangh in several of his addresses.

In an age dominated by instant and fleeting digital information, libraries like this remain sanctuaries of deep reading, critical thinking, and ethical reflection. They remind us that learning is not about accumulation of facts alone, but about developing conscience, compassion, and commitment to society. Mahatma Gandhiji believed that “Education must bring out the best in body, mind, and spirit.” This extended library has the potential to do exactly that by offering an environment where ideas are explored, histories are preserved, and future leaders are quietly shaped. I congratulate the Harijan Sevak Sangh the trustees, donors, architects, librarians, and every individual who has contributed to making this vision a reality. Your efforts will benefit generations to come. May this extended Mahadev Desai Library become a vibrant centre of learning, dialogue, and social awakening. May it inspire countless readers to walk the path of truth, non-violence, and service that Gandhiji and Mahadev Desai ji exemplified. With these words, I once again extend my best wishes for the continued growth and impact of this noble institution. Jai Hind! Long Live Mother Bharat!