Serving readers with distinction

Shri Shiddheshwar Mofat  Vachanalaya in Athani town in Belagavi district was founded as an offshoot of India’s freedom movement. While the movement aimed at attaining freedom to the country, economic development and social awareness were the other goals. An extension of these goals was the opening of a vachanalaya (library) in Athani. The library was named after the local deity, Shri Shiddheshwara. Patriots like Dattopant Hanamsagar, Nurandappa Shetty, Dr Balaba Kulahalli, Dattopant Gadgil took active part in establishing this free public library. Shiddheswar Mofat Vachanalaya was inaugurated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in November, 1917. Two persons, Vishnopanant Deshpande and Narayan Deshmukh contributed significantly to the growth of the library.

Now, the library is stepping into its 100th year of serving society through imparting education and creating awareness. Today, the library has become an integral part of the town and become popular among booklovers. The library has over 25,000 books on different subjects and reference books on freedom movement, art and literature.

When Bal Gangadhar Tilak died in 1920, his ardent follower Shivappanna Jamakhandi attended the funeral ceremony in Bombay. While returning, he brought Tilak’s ashes and kept in the library premises. A marble structure has been constructed at the place. The visitors book in the library contains words of appreciation by national leaders and icons of freedom movement. Over the years, the library was shifted to a new building in the town. Every year on August 1, on the day of Tilak’s death anniversary, the library organises a programme to discuss national or social problems.