700-Book Library at Guwahati Police Station Offers Free Study Space for Students

Panbazar has long been known for its strong connection with books and learning. Now, that identity has found a new and unusual space inside the Panbazar police station, where a library has been established to bring policing and education together.

Amid the busy surroundings of one of Guwahati’s most active localities, the library offers police personnel and members of the public a quiet place to read, study and explore books while remaining within the police station premises.

The library currently has more than 700 books, with plans to increase the collection to over 1,500. Panbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shankar Jyoti Nath said the initiative was developed through the joint efforts of the police station, the station committee, local residents, booksellers’ associations, publishers and book traders.

“We had been planning this for a long time. We felt it would be good to create an environment for reading and learning inside the police station,” Nath said.

The project took nearly two months of planning and preparation and was formally inaugurated by Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta on August 30.

The library contains books covering a wide range of subjects, including the history of Assam, India and the world, the tea industry, tribes and communities of Northeast India, religion and general knowledge. Special attention has also been given to students and candidates preparing for competitive examinations such as the APSC and UPSC.

According to Nath, students often struggle to find quiet and affordable places to study in Guwahati. The library aims to address that problem by allowing students to bring their own study materials and use the space free of charge.

The library is planned to remain open 24 hours a day, allowing students to study beyond conventional library hours. Authorities also plan to introduce Wi-Fi facilities and expand the library as its collection and number of users grow.

Access to the library is simple and free. Visitors only need to register their name and address. However, books cannot be borrowed or taken outside the premises.

The project was developed at an estimated cost of Rs 4–5 lakh. Its supporters believe that its real value lies not simply in the infrastructure, but in the atmosphere of learning and interaction it seeks to create.

Nath said the initiative is also expected to strengthen relations between the police and the public. Guwahati Police Commissioner Parthasarathi Mahanta, who has an association with literature, has consistently emphasised the importance of maintaining positive relations between the police and the community.

Libraries within police establishments are not entirely new in India. Similar initiatives have been introduced by police departments in Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. A police station in Udalguri, Assam, has also established a library.

However, the Panbazar library hopes to develop a distinct identity because of the locality’s longstanding association with books and education.

Outside the police station, Panbazar continues with its familiar mix of bookshops, students, commuters and busy streets. Inside, alongside the everyday responsibilities of policing and crime investigation, there is now a quiet space dedicated to reading, learning and knowledge.