KLF Donates 1,000 Books to Establish Sarwanam Library in Nepal
Bhubaneswar, June 8: In a significant step towards strengthening literary and cultural ties between India and Nepal, the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) has donated 1,000 bestselling and critically acclaimed English and Hindi books to establish the Sarwanam Library at Sarwanam Theatre in Kathmandu.
The library was inaugurated recently, marking a new chapter in cross-border literary collaboration and KLF’s continued efforts to promote reading culture across South Asia.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by eminent literary critic, translator and scholar Prof. Jatindra Kumar Nayak, former Odisha cadre IAS officer and former Chairman of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) Dr. Upendra Nath Behera, KLF Founder and Director Rashmi Ranjan Parida, KLF Kathmandu Director Ranjana Nirola, and Sarwanam Theatre Founder and Director Ashesh Malla.
Established in 1982, Sarwanam Theatre is one of Nepal’s premier theatre institutions. The newly opened library features a carefully curated collection of bestselling novels, literary classics and acclaimed contemporary works, providing readers, students, writers, theatre practitioners and literature enthusiasts with access to quality books from around the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Rashmi Ranjan Parida said books have the power to connect people across cultures and generations. He said KLF remains committed to nurturing a strong reading culture, particularly among young people, and expanding access to quality literature. He expressed hope that the initiative would inspire the creation of more libraries and literary spaces across Nepal while further strengthening the cultural bond between the two neighbouring countries.
Welcoming the initiative, Ashesh Malla described the Sarwanam Library as the beginning of a long-term partnership with the Kalinga Literary Festival. He said both organisations plan to launch a book club and organise regular book discussions, author interactions and literary events to create a vibrant platform for readers and emerging writers.
Beyond the donation of books, the collaboration aims to promote sustained literary exchange through reader engagement programmes, cultural initiatives and creative dialogues between India and Nepal.
The Kalinga Literary Festival said the Sarwanam Library is expected to emerge as an important centre for reading, research and literary engagement in Nepal, reinforcing its mission of supporting libraries and building vibrant reading communities beyond national boundaries.