About Us
Akshar Bharati – Spreading Joy Through Reading
🌟 Our Inspiration
Akshar Bharati was born out of a deep desire to contribute to the vision of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s dream of a developed India. In 2005, after returning to India with this goal in mind, a thought kept recurring — How can we create meaningful, lasting impact for India’s future generations?
The answer came from a deeply personal space: books and reading. Reading sparks imagination, opens minds, and builds empathy. What if we could make this powerful habit accessible to every child in India?
📚 Our Beginning
We began with a simple idea: “Even a small bookshelf in a school can be a window to the world for a child.” In 2007, on Akshaya Tritiya (18th April), we established our first library in an orphanage in Khadki, Pune. Akshar Bharati was formally set up as a project under Sewa International. In our first year alone, we installed 25 one-shelf libraries in government and community schools across Pune.
🚀 Our Journey
- 1700+ Libraries set up across India
- 60,000+ Children actively engaged in Reading Clubs
- 3 Lakh+ Students trained in basic computer education
- Libraries on Wheels launched to reach remote schools
- Environmental Campaign introduced to link child growth with tree growth
What started with a handful of volunteers and one bookshelf is now a grassroots network of changemakers, teachers, parents, and supporters working toward one goal — building a reading nation.
🌱 Our Philosophy
- Reading is the foundation of lifelong learning.
- Every child deserves access to inspiring and relevant books.
- Frugal and scalable solutions can create massive impact.
- Community participation multiplies the joy of giving.
🌍 What We Do
- Set up libraries in schools, orphanages, and communities
- Run active reading clubs with storytelling and group activities
- Train children in basic computer literacy
- Distribute books through libraries-on-wheels
- Promote environmental awareness through tree plantation drives linked with children’s growth journeys
🎯 Vision
To contribute to India’s development by nurturing tomorrow’s citizens through an environment that fosters learning, reading, and lifelong education.
🚀 Mission
To empower underserved communities across India by establishing active reading clubs and libraries that cultivate the habit of reading and self-development in children.