Jog Prasad Pandey who spent three decades in the same library

Kathmandu, Sept 7: Born in Birgha Archlebari of Syangja on 26th of Shravan in 2015, Jogprasad Pandey, a child brahmachari, completed his education up to the school level from Janata Mawi of the village. Pandey, who had a spiritual nature since childhood, lived in India for some time. Even when he was in India, he enjoyed religious activities. After returning from India in 2043, he joined various religious and social organizations of the village and started doing social work. Jogprasad Pandey, a celibate who has decided not to marry for the rest of his life, and walks barefoot, has been eating one chokho prasad without onion, garlic and salt since 2048.

Although Birgha is located in Durgam of Syangja district, it is a village known for its educational fertile land. With the end of the Rana rule, Vis. With the opening of schools in Nepal after 2007, schools were also opened here, but the opening of the library had to wait for the multi-party system of Nepal in 2046. Around the year 2047, under the leadership of Gopal Pandey of the village, Jogprasad Pandey also actively started the campaign to open a library. The library, which started from a small room, took shape with the help of American citizen Antonia Newar – under the name Matrubhoomi Community Library.

Since 2050, the library has been operating regularly from its own building. A library was opened in the village rather than an older person who was entrusted with the task of establishing the library. During these three decades, many employees have changed in the library, but Jogprasad Pandey has been working continuously for seven years since he was appointed on 13th Kartik 2050. Jogprasad Pandey, who started his service by buying an old house in the village, was an old man at the door of Matrubhumi Library, so in the early days Jog Prasad Pandey spent many nights sleeping alone in the library for the purpose of waiting for books.

At that time, there were occasional problems with the phone tower. When there was a problem with the tower, he had to walk uphill for 5.6 hours and go to Gulmi Hile, but when there was a problem with the battery, why not go to Palpa, which is 4.5 hours away, to charge it? In addition to books, when the readers were keenly interested in various daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, the library managed about 2 dozen newspapers by looking for donors annually. Even when there were no transportation facilities, he spent 3 hours a day and even walked barefoot to the nearby Mirmi market, bringing newspapers and books to the readers.

Let’s say from the dilapidated building after the earthquake of 2072, or even during the Covid epidemic, he continued to serve the needs of the readers without sacrificing his life. The library was not allowed to be closed. In the absence of regular financial resources of the library, the library management committee established a revolving fund in the name of a deceased person and had to operate the library with the amount of interest and lifetime membership fees. Due to the financial weakness of the library, Jog Prasad Pandey operated the library even though he was working as a volunteer without salary, but at other times, the library was being operated regularly for the past three decades due to the low salary.

Apart from that, the 65-year-old Pandey left no stone unturned to keep the library alive during this period of 30 years. Jog Prasad Pandey is one of those who reach Pusma before time and leave last after completing his regular sadhana and household chores. He never asked for himself, he always asked for the library. All the time, labor and age of his life has been spent in improving the motherland library. Since Jogprasad Pandey has played an important role in maintaining the dignity of the library since its inception, thousands of readers are benefiting from Matrubhoomi today.

People from children to the elderly often come to the library not only to read books but also to learn about knowledge, meditation and sacrifice with Jogprasad Pandey. With nearly four decades of spiritual practice and nearly three decades of library management experience, Jog Prasad Pandey is a library for the new PD itself. Jogprasad Pandey was also honored on the occasion of the 16th National Library Day, 2080. Jog Prasad Pandey of Matrubhoomi Community Library of Kaligandaki rural municipality 4 Birgha of Syangja was also honored during a program organized in Kathmandu on August 15th. Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, honored Pandey, who has been continuously working in the library field for the past 30 years.