In the heart of crowded Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, in the Indian capital, is the Hazrat Shah Waliullah Public Library

This community library has over 21,000 books including rare works in Urdu, Persian and Arabic. Some of these are translations of Hindu religous texts and epics like Ramayana. Started by seven friends to give local youth a meaningful avenue to occupy their minds and time, the unique initiative is an example of how communities can create islands of learning & harmony in neighborhoods that can often become breeding grounds of radicalisation and prejudice in uncertain times.