# @kanchan_balani on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DV7-SB_kgDu
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/59914407-kanchan-balani-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/72cc24005e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-16T07:33:23.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Kanchan (@kanchan_balani) — https://gondola.cc/kanchan_balani

## Caption

I was at The Community Library Project (TCLP) Khirki branch for the musical read-aloud of my book yesterday. It was 21 of us. Throughout the session, all the kids had so many questions: about the story, about the characters, about why they behave the way they do. I found myself thinking about a dozen things. About why I wrote this book. About what it means when a story lands in a room like this one.

A room with its entrance painted in bold letters: Reading With Pride. Reading Is Resistance.

A room that intends to fill the enormous gaps that India’s public library system leaves behind. Free. Anti-caste. Feminist. Community-owned. TCLP is committed to providing access to books and learning opportunities for marginalised communities. 

What amazed me was the chart papers on the walls as soon as we entered the library. I kept looking at the stars on them next to each name. And I was explained: every 10 books a member reads, they earn one star. 10 stars meant a 100 books. And so many names had 10 stars. It sounds simple until you think about what it takes to read a 100 books. When your home may not have a quiet corner, or reliable light, or the kind of adults who have time to sit with you over a story, or when the school you go to is not designed to make you a reader. When everything around you is pulling in the other direction and you keep coming back anyway, and you read, and you read, and you read.

10 stars is an act of resistance.

The Community Library Project kitabein_bolti_hain currently has more than 14,000 members across three branches in Delhi. If you’d like to support them, there are many ways (link in bio).

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## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kanchan | @kanchan_balani | https://gondola.cc/kanchan_balani | Consultant |

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