Browsing by Author "K, Gireesan"

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    Reaching the Unreached to Empower Citizens in Democracy: Scope, Opportunities, Possibilities and Challenges of Peripatetic Libraries
    (INFLIBNET Centre Gandhinagar, 2025-12-08) K, Gireesan
    In many parts of the world, access to knowledge and information continues to be a distant dream for marginalized communities, especially those in remote, conflict-prone, or climate- vulnerable regions. This paper explores the concept and practice of peripatetic libraries— mobile, flexible, and community-oriented initiatives that bring books and learning resources to the doorstep of the underserved. From camel libraries in Kenya and boat libraries in Bangladesh to donkey libraries in Colombia and mobile van libraries in India, these unconventional library models are powerful tools for democratizing education, fostering civic engagement, and advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing upon theoretical frameworks such as Amartya Sen’s capability approach and Habermas’ public sphere, the paper highlights how access to information is critical to democratic citizenship. The paper also aligns the vision of peripatetic libraries with SDG-4 (Quality Education) and India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, arguing for their integration into formal educational frameworks. Through global case studies, opportunities, and policy recommendations, the study advocates for peripatetic libraries not as peripheral experiments but as core democratic innovations essential for reaching the unreached and empowering citizens at the margins