NRK setting up Malayalam library Down Under

Kottayam: Far from home, a Keralite in Sydney has found an unusual way to keep Kerala close — by building a library of Malayalam books that any member of the diaspora can borrow, at no cost.Siju Jacob, native of Chingavanam in the district, has been making multiple trips to Kerala to realise his goal of collecting books. Some books have been bought, while individuals and organisations have donated him some. He has been sending these books as parcels to his home in Orange, near Sydney in Australia. He is planning to launch the library next month.Jacob, who himself has written books in Malayalam, has been living in Sydney for the last 10 years. Before relocating to Sydney, he was in New Zealand, where he ran a Malayalam newspaper for the Malayali community there.He is now in the process of converting two rooms in his Sydney house as a library. “Anyone interested in reading can come and read books free of cost. We will also lend books for free,” he said.Jacob’s love for letters inspired him to embark on such a venture. “Buying Malayalam books via courier is very expensive and those who were once keen readers have stopped as many books are not available now. This made me think about starting a library for Malayalam books,” he said.Jacob’s library will have a sizeable collection of children’s literature as he would like the new generation also to be in touch with the literature and culture of Kerala.