Home Social Services Books at your Doorstep

Books at your Doorstep

0
Books at your Doorstep

Sanjay Raja, a Civil Engineer based in Karachi, is the one who, during the Covid-19 lockdowns, started buying and dispatching the books free of charge to the book-lovers across the province, country and even abroad under his drive Hashtag #SindhReads       

By Maham Sindhi

Books are our friends, our companion in the loneliness; they are tourists as well as tourist guiders; they are mentors, and even can share our sorrows.

You must have heard about some book-thieves, who steal books or they pick books from their friends, and forget to return. Such persons can be found everywhere around the world, but do you know a person who buys books and donates to readers bearing all the expenses from his own pocket?

Yes, here is one, and I am going to tell you about that person, who is perhaps the first free book donor, based in Karachi, the Heart of Sindh.

By profession a civil engineer, Sanjay Raja was born in Larkana, Sindh is now settled with family in Karachi. He is a positon holder of SPSC competitive exams of 2015, and made proud his family.

In the starting days of Covid-19, which resulted complete lockdown in big cities, he started a campaign with Hashtag #SindhReads, to gift books to book lovers. Whenever he got free time, he visited the bookshop and bought different books on different topics. Then he used to post photos of all books on social media with free offer. Anyone who chose a book, he would send his postal address to Sanjay Raja, and he got the book at his doorstep.

It was unbelievable for me, when I learnt about him. How can a person do all this free of cost, in a time when inflation is touching the peak, but gradually as time passed, all my doubts changed in to my trust, when I read the thanksgiving messages of people, who received books free of cost at their doorsteps. It sounds nice that someone shares books free of cost to all those whom he doesn’t know, but wants to enlighten him with knowledge.

Since couple of years, Sanjay was attached with social work through different activities such as helping undergraduate students etc. But this time, when he took a big step, purchasing book with his own money, and sending to different individuals throughout Sindh, Balochistan and other provinces, even in United Arab Emirates, then the echo of his work was heard by many people.

When I personally asked him about two books, he agreed and sent me. It was very surprising for me that I received books just in two days from Sanjay Raja.

After duty hours, he starts his work to serve people with books. He has made many friends and well-wishers all over Sindh by winning their hearts through free book service.

“Sindh Reads” has now become an inspiration for all of us. Inspired through this service, now some people have come in touch with Sanjay, and want to donate some books for libraries, for children and for schools.

Sanjay Raja proves himself a motivational person, who motivate people towards books. Let’s appreciate first book donor of Sindh. Although it’s not a Guinness World Record, but he set a record in Sindh History. Our prayers are with him, may he continue his work throughout his life. At present times when extremism and intolerance is all around us, we should praise these precious characters, who gave us message of humanity, peace and harmony.

____________________

Maham Sindhi is a freelance writer