Amit Shah Inaugurates Jayaprakash Narayan Library: Home Minister Stresses that Knowledge is the Foundation for Nation Building

Amit Shah Inaugurates Jayaprakash Narayan Library: Home Minister Stresses that Knowledge is the Foundation for Nation Building​

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the Jayaprakash Narayan Library in New Delhi on July 11, 2026. The library, dedicated to Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, aims to serve as a vital hub for intellectual discourse and knowledge acquisition for the youth. Addressing dignitaries including Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta and NDMC Chairman Shri Keshav Chandra, Shah emphasized that a nation's future is determined not by industry or markets, but by the caliber of its young citizens gathered in libraries.

Knowledge as the Bedrock of National Prosperity​

Shri Amit Shah stated that knowledge and wisdom are the essential foundation for driving a nation towards prosperity and successful self-reliance. He stressed that while good governance and infrastructure are important, they pale in comparison to the transformative power of education. A library is presented as the single most equipped institution to nurture this vital intellectual growth within society.

The Minister appealed directly to the youth, urging them all to make an effort to connect with a library at least once. Shah shared his personal transformation story, noting how his association with a well-stocked library in his hometown led him to study the Vedas and Upanishads without conscious endeavor. He underlined that reading cultivates the necessary discernment to distinguish right from wrong.

Significance of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan's Legacy​

Shri Amit Shah provided historical context regarding the revolutionary figure, Jayaprakash Narayan (JP). He highlighted JP as a visionary thinker who held diverse ideologies throughout his life and was instrumental in the Quit India Movement. Post-Independence, he declined ministerial posts and dedicated himself to socialist causes, supporting Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Movement and Sarvodaya philosophy across villages.

The Home Minister recounted that during The Emergency, JP strongly opposed the then Prime Minister and led student movements in Bihar and Gujarat. It was this period when the slogan "Andhere Mein Ek Prakash, Jayaprakash" provided a beacon of hope to the nation's opposition leaders who faced imprisonment. This movement eventually contributed to the defeat of the prime minister from Rae Bareli in the subsequent general election.

State-of-the-Art Amenities and Ecosystem Development​

The newly inaugurated facility houses a collection of over 32,000 physical books and provides access to one crore free e-books through its dedicated e-library section. The library is equipped with modern amenities for researchers, including a multi-purpose auditorium and a contemporary reading area. Furthermore, the institution features a state-of-the-art RFID-based book management system and will be connected to the National Digital Library of India via OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue).

Shah highlighted ongoing initiatives in his parliamentary constituency where every village has been provided with a local library housing 3,000 to 4,000 books. These smaller libraries are linked to a central collection exceeding 1.25 lakh books and four mobile library vans have also been deployed for outreach. Requested books can be delivered to the respective villages every Friday.

A Call for Interconnectivity and Youth Engagement​

Union Home Minister Shah specifically urged the Delhi Government to develop a comprehensive plan to interconnect all libraries across the city and link them with schools. He appealed to the staff of the Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library to actively reach out to the schools in the ten surrounding Assembly constituencies.

The Minister stated that reading cultivates the courage necessary to delve into the vast ocean of knowledge, eventually finding wisdom (pearls and gems) that refines personality. He stressed that without engaging with the works of Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', Indians cannot truly understand their own culture or spirit. He appealed for youth to utilize this resource to enrich their lives and contribute towards making India self-reliant by 2047.