DIMAPUR, SEPT 14 (MExN): Dimapur could not have wished for a better day to inaugurate a centre of learning for its citizens. Under a clear September sky, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio cut a red ribbon into two to swing open the gates leading to the Central Public Library, Dimapur, located at a stone’s throw distance from the Government College.
The library is a gift from the Army, an undertaking of its Military Civic Action programme, in collaboration with the civil administration. Built at a cost of Rs 75 lakh, the library was constructed under a record time of seven months. General Officer Commanding of 3 Corps, Lieutenant General ZU Shah, played an instrumental part in obtaining the funds.
“It is a proud moment for all of us to have this kind of library in Dimapur,” Rio announced, “It is a dream come true for many readers.” All praises for the Army’s workmanship, he called upon civil engineers to learn from the men in olive. The completion of the library is a result of peacetime and the ceasefire, he said. “Let us zealously guard and maintain ceasefire in our land,” Rio appealed.
He asked the youth to instill in themselves the habit of reading and advised them to learn about life from books. To drive home his point through the medium of wit, he said the letters and e-mails nowadays received by parents are hardly decipherable because of the unintelligible ‘signs’ and ‘shortcuts.’ Rio was to inaugurate the library on Teachers’ Day, September 5, but was unable to do so because of his engagement with Delhi. He apologized for this.
The happiest to see the birth of the facility where the only requirement for entrance is interest, was perhaps Dimapur’s venerated senior citizen Manik Bhattcharjee. “Really, today I feel I am one of the most fortunate persons to witness such a historic occasion,” he said. Making a definite assurance of contributing books, he projected that the library would serve as a fabulous recreational centre for the youth.
The library, constructed under the Army’s ‘Operation Sadbhavna’ boasts of high quality, prefabricated structures imported from Israel which are said to be termite and water proof, light in weight and ideal for earthquake-prone areas.
Approximately 1000 books have been provided by the Army, besides a year’s subscription for 40 magazines and newspapers.
.jpg)
