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Dear Readers,

                     Many of you would be aware that Professor Thomas Piketty's book Capital, has emerged as a major breakthrough in international academia and is the latest talking point in universities across the globe. I am not in any position to comment on the content of the book because I could not lay my hands on it ( which would explain why I chose to write a blog tonight) but none the less, it is comforting to understand that his analysis of capitalism in the present context resonates the ideas of Marx in many ways.  . 

                      I tried looking for this book in many libraries that I visited recently during the last 3 months. Unfortunately, I could not find the book. On my return to Jaipur, I personally visited the offices of the main librarians of two of the most distinguished libraries of the city and despite their repeated assurances, the book seems like a far cry ( I would not mention the names here lest I evoke any animosity which costs me dear on my reading tastes). Well! This brings me to the agenda here.

                        It is unfortunate that the higher education system of our country is in shambles presently and there can be no other parameter to judge this decadence better than the state of our libraries. There is an urgent need to overhaul the entire library system and public reading culture. Many of the Grand libraries are under-staffed, the books are not arranged in any comprehensible order, funds allocated for buying new titles and digitization are often goofed up and the most important works and titles are not traceable as in the above case. Worst is the scenario where the stacks are ornamented with sub-standard, pseudo-intellectual literature instead of the Classics which is highly detrimental to the mental health of students and scholars.   

                      As I often tell my students, universities should be the place for debate and dissent but how can this be plausible till the time the fuel of critical thinking is not provided to our dear, bright and promising students. The way from the Library to the street joints of intense public debating is a long one and will be desolate untill and unless our libraries are rich with books and literature igniting the young minds.....