In the quiet evenings of Aragam village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, 16-year-old Irfan Ahmad now spends hours reading beside a dim bulb inside his mud-plastered home. A few years ago, he had dropped out of school after Class 6 because his family could not afford educational expenses, and there were barely any books available in the remote tribal village near Wular Lake.

Today, Irfan reads everything from Kashmiri history to Urdu fiction and dreams of resuming his education. His favourite books are stories about Kashmir’s past and the natural world around Wular Lake.

After finishing each book, he gathers his younger siblings and narrates the stories back to them — something he says has changed how he sees himself and his future.

“Earlier, I felt my studies had ended forever,” Irfan says. “Now, when I read, it feels like I am still learning. I want to continue my education and prepare for competitive exams someday.”

In the foothills of Harmukh, where dense pine forests slope gently towards Wular Lake, Aragam is quietly transforming itself into Kashmir’s first major ‘Book Village’, where homes have become miniature libraries and reading is reshaping the identity of an entire tribal community.

A tribal village reimagined through books

Aragam has long been a remote settlement where educational opportunities were limited. For many families, access to schools, study material, and even basic infrastructure remained a challenge. Today, however, the village is witnessing a remarkable shift.

Mud-plastered homes, once symbols of remoteness, are being transformed into spaces of learning. In many households, wooden shelves now hold books ranging from Kashmir’s history and regional literature to novels and fiction from around the world.

This transformation began with a 2014 proposal by Sarhad NGO, which envisioned creating a “book village” in Jammu and Kashmir. After consultations with the district administration in Bandipora and a detailed survey of areas around Wular Lake, Aragam was chosen for its infrastructure and, more importantly, the willingness of residents to participate.

The initiative is being supported by Pune-based Sarhad........

© The Better India