She hung books on a string and built a world of stories. This 9-year-old turned reading into hope for underprivileged kids. Powerful stuff.
Sometimes the most powerful stories don’t come from world leaders, bestselling authors, or people with unlimited resources. Sometimes they come from a child with a stack of books and a stubborn belief that things can be better.
Meet Muskan: The Girl Who Loves Books (and People!)
Imagine being nine years old and being told, “You’re running a library.” For most nine-year-olds, that would mean maybe organizing a bookshelf at home or making a “library” out of picture books for teddy bears. But not for Muskan Ahirwar. She actually ran a real library for children who needed it.
Muskan grew up in the Durganagar area of Bhopal, India, a low-income community where access to quality books and learning opportunities is limited. Instead of just wishing for more books or more opportunities, she decided to create them herself. At nine years old. After school. Every day.
From a String of Books to a Community Hub
It all started very simply. Muskan and her older sister, Neha, would hang colorful books on a string outside their house. Yep, like fairy lights, but with stories. Kids passing by were instantly curious. And once they peeked at those books, they were hooked.
Every day after school, around 4 p.m., Muskan would set up the little library on a mat and invite children from the neighborhood to come read. Some kids savored the stories quietly, others listened as she read out loud, and some asked tons of questions (which she happily answered!).
Her library wasn’t just a stack of books. It became a place where children could come together, laugh, learn, and imagine worlds beyond their own streets. It was community building, one story at a time, from her little heart to the other children’s.
The Work Muskan Does
It’s tempting to think, “Oh, it’s just books.” But that would be missing the whole point. Places like Muskan’s library make learning accessible, spark imagination, and give kids confidence. Schools teach lessons, but libraries invite children to explore lessons, and a library run by a child?
That breaks down any intimidation, makes the whole thing approachable, and that is a big difference. In many underserved areas, including slums like the one Muskan lives in, kids may go to school but rarely get the chance to read for pleasure or grow their love of stories. Muskan is doing more than just sharing books; she’s sharing joy, learning, confidence, and curiosity. At 9 years old!
Books, Friends, and a Whole Lot of Smiles
Muskan didn’t just hand out books like they were candy. She read stories aloud that kids couldn’t read yet. She listened to them try new words. She encouraged them to borrow books and return them. She made reading fun.
At first, the sisters had about 25 books from a local education centre. But it didn’t take long before the library grew. With contributions from NGOs and visitors, the collection eventually grew and grew. Muskan received donations from Room to Read, about which she said: “These are very colourful books. I liked all of them. The drawings in the books are very good, and the words are written big.”
What People Like Muskan Teach Us
There are so many lessons tucked into Muskan’s library story, and sure, plenty of them are literary. But many have less to do with reading and more to do with life.
One of the biggest things that Muskan teaches us is that big change often starts small. With a handful of books, determination, and a drive to share her love of reading, a 9-year-old girl made a real change. In her community, and even beyond. She took her big heart and a willingness to try, and she left her footprint on the world.
And with that, Muskan’s library teaches us that inspiration is contagious. Once kids saw Muskan reading, loving books, and sharing books, they wanted to love books too. Kids in her community picked up books to read, and people across the world who heard her story might just have made changes to their lives, too.
Being so young, Muskan is also an example of how leadership can belong to anyone. Muskan started her work at 9 years old in the slums. If that’s not an underdog story, what is? If Muskan doesn’t demonstrate that with a bit of heart and a bit of passion, you can do all you shoot for.
Finally, Muskan teaches us that learning is fun. One thing people too often forget. They too often don’t consider that learning can be fun and joyful. It doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be something you enjoy, share with friends and family, or even your community. When we stop seeing learning as something intimidating, as something expected of us, it can be something truly wonderful.
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
