4 min learnMumbaiUp to date: Mar 1, 2026 09:10 PM IST
At a time when screens compete for consideration and algorithms curate decisions, the inaugural Harsha Parekh Librarian Awards (HPLA) on Saturday put the highlight on librarians, who’re considered the “custodians” of studying. Instituted by the HT Parekh Basis, the awards honoured 4 library champions from throughout the nation and mentioned the enduring energy of books in a digital world.
The award is called after Professor Harsha S Parekh, who spent her profession at SNDT Ladies’s College, the place she headed the SHPT Faculty of Library Sciences and helped set up India’s first unbiased School of Library Science. The pioneering librarian and mentor was remembered by her nephews Aditya Parekh and Siddharth Parekh as somebody who launched them to books like Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing facility.
In the Faculty Librarian class, the award was introduced to Jai Shekhar, teacher-cum-librarian at the authorities Main Faculty Dharmapur Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. Saba Khan, founder of the Savitribai Phule Fatima Sheikh Library, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, acquired the Group Librarian award.
Celebrating ‘humanity’s struggle with algorithm’: Anant Goenka
The Organisation for Early Literacy Promotion (OELP), a society based in 2008 devoted to constructing faculty and group libraries in rural India, was given the Organisation Championing Library Work award whereas Vidya Devi, a full-time librarian at Kamala Nimbkar Balbhavan, Phaltan, Maharashtra, being run below the State Board, acquired a Particular Point out for Faculty Librarian.
Appreciating the efforts of librarians, Anant Goenka, Government Director, The Indian Specific Group, mentioned, “What we’re celebrating immediately is humanity’s struggle with the algorithm.” He was moderating a particular dialog with Tara Sharma Saluja, actor and producer, and writer Ashwin Sanghi.
Recounting his maternal grandfather’s custom of sending him a ebook each week from Kanpur, Sanghi mentioned: “By handpicking books and making me learn, my nanaji (grandfather) modified the course of life.”
Sharma Saluja famous that whereas many from privileged backgrounds develop up with books at dwelling, the awards recognised the efforts of those that handed on the love of books to those that don’t have entry to them. “That’s unimaginable. Books open your thoughts,” mentioned Sharma Saluja, who graduated from the London Faculty of Economics and labored at Accenture earlier than pursuing performing.
Based on Sharma Saluja, so long as they’re studying good writing, whether or not it’s on a tool or printed on paper, it needs to be appreciated. She, nevertheless, would need to be sure “the subsequent era additionally is aware of the pleasure of holding a ebook”.
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Sanghi mentioned: “The entry to data has grow to be so limitless that they (readers) don’t essentially really feel the urge to delve into the lengthy kind. Allow them to use all the technological instruments obtainable to them. However be sure additionally they have the quaint approach of consuming materials and content material.”
Citing the undeniable fact that the sale of bodily books in Nordic international locations has gone up, Goenka identified that there’s “an enormous counterculture” development unfolding.
“It’s invaluable what the librarians do,” Goenka mentioned and added: “Print shouldn’t be going anyplace. Actually, it’s rising as a result of of the credibility of that medium.”
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