A teacher is also a learner
Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor, affectionately known as 'Uncle Moosa,' has spent over four decades in Arunachal Pradesh fostering a love for reading among children through the Lohit Youth Library Movement. His philosophy emphasizes that true education transcends the classroom, focusing on mutual learning between teachers and students and the joy of discovery.
Why it matters
The story highlights the transformative power of grassroots educational initiatives and the importance of human-centric, non-traditional learning environments in underserved communities.
Before he became “Uncle Moosa” to generations of children in Arunachal Pradesh, Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor was a young boy with a simple reading habit: grabbing a copy of The Hindu and turning to the cricket page.
“I was in Class 2,” he recalls. “I used to grab The Hindu and try to read the cricket news on the last page.”
That early curiosity stayed with him. Reading became a source of joy, learning and discovery — something he wanted other children to experience too.
Today, after more than four decades in Arunachal Pradesh, Mundayoor continues to work towards that goal, taking books and the joy of reading to young people who have limited access to them.
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