Perambalur: S. Sembaruthi spent most part of her Monday evening at her Kolappadi village library, engrossed in books on medicine. She kept looking around to check if there were others like her using the library.
The 16-year-old class 10 student had reason to feel elated and proud finding there were indeed many at the tables, with books and newspapers spread before them.
“It felt so good seeing all those people using the library, and knowing that in some small way I was responsible”, said the girl. She had cut the ribbon to inaugurate the library on Sunday but that was only part of the story, which actually began some two years ago.
“Our Kunnam constituency MLA, S. S. Sivasankar had come to our village to unveil a statue of late Anna in August 2013. He was about to get into his car after the function when I gathered courage to ask him why our village library had been closed for so many years.
I told him there were many poor students like me who wanted to pursue higher education and needed to read a lot. MLA promised he would get us the library. I am thankful to him for keeping his promise”, Sembaruthi told DC. “I have always dreamt of becoming an IPS officer; my efforts have already begun at this library”.
MLA Sivasankar recalled he had problems initially to get the library ready. “I sanctioned Rs 2 lakh from my constituency development fund. First I was told the MLA fund cannot be used for building library. I then changed my request for a padippagam (reading room) and the project was completed. I consider this as one of the high points of my political career”, he said.
The DMK legislator did another unusually kind gesture—not only did he get Sembaruthi to inaugurate the library but also had her name etched on the stone plaque at the building’s entrance.
