If you’ve ever stacked away books thinking someone else could use them, you’re not alone. In Delhi, a bunch of young changemakers turned that thought into a full-blown grassroots campaign that puts books into the hands of thousands across the city without charging a single rupee.

Welcome to the Book in Hand Campaign (BHC India), an initiative so low on frills and high on trust, it may restore your faith in community-driven action.

Started in August 2023, BHC India is run by the CELL Foundation, a youth-led collective that has set up six free open book libraries across Delhi-NCR in parks, slums, and campuses, offering books to anyone who wants to read. No ID cards, no deposits, no overdue fines. Just name, number, address, and a shared belief that stories are meant to be shared.

“We deeply believe that when something is done with the right intention and for the betterment of the community, it is bound to succeed, especially when it is rooted in trust and shared purpose,” say Pratik and Anurag, co-founders of the initiative.

Libraries without locks

The idea was born out of a simple observation: piles of books collecting dust on urban shelves, and students in neighbouring bastis unable to afford even a second-hand paperback.

“When you have books, ones you’ve already read, just sitting on your shelf, a thought naturally arises: What if someone else who truly wants to read, but can’t afford books, could get access to them?” the team recalls.

That spark lit the first library in Gandhi Vihar – a park where, every Sunday, students and local residents could borrow a book. Since then, BHC has expanded to Vijay Nagar, Delhi University’s Faculty of Arts, DU Women’s Association, and even children’s libraries in Patrachar Basti and Sanjay Basti, reaching readers across ages and income groups.

The trust economy

In a world used to receipts and penalties, it’s natural to wonder: don’t books just… disappear?

Surprisingly, no.

© The Better India