The newly inaugurated public library has been developed by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and is named after freedom fighter and social reformer Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma, NDMC Chairman Keshav Chandra and several other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, Shah said the future of a nation is reflected not merely in its economic progress but in the number of young people who regularly visit libraries. He stressed that knowledge eventually transforms into wisdom and plays a decisive role in nation-building. According to him, reading encourages independent thinking and helps individuals distinguish between right and wrong.

Recalling his own childhood, the Home Minister said growing up in a small town with access to a good library had a lasting impact on his intellectual journey. He encouraged students and young professionals to make libraries a regular part of their lives instead of relying only on fragmented information available elsewhere.

Highlighting initiatives undertaken in his parliamentary constituency of Gandhinagar, Shah said libraries have been established in nearly every village, each housing thousands of books and connected to a central library with a much larger collection. He said mobile library services have also been introduced to improve access to books in rural areas.

The Home Minister also urged the Delhi government to create an integrated network linking libraries across the city with schools and educational institutions. He said such a system would help cultivate reading habits among students from an early age and make knowledge resources more accessible.

According to officials, the Jayaprakash Narayan Library houses more than 32,000 printed books and includes dedicated facilities for researchers, a children's section, modern reading spaces, a multipurpose auditorium and an advanced research centre. It also features an e-library providing access to nearly one crore digital books, along with free Wi-Fi, RFID-based book management and an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). The facility will be integrated with the National Digital Library of India.

Paying tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan, Shah described him as a visionary leader who made significant contributions to India's democratic journey. He recalled Narayan's role in the Quit India Movement, his work for social reform and his leadership during the Emergency, when he became the face of the movement calling for "Sampoorna Kranti".

The Home Minister said understanding India's civilisational values and democratic traditions requires serious reading, adding that libraries provide the right environment for such learning. He encouraged the management of the new library to actively engage with nearby schools and inspire students to make regular use of the facility.

The inauguration comes as governments increasingly focus on expanding public learning infrastructure and promoting digital access to educational resources. Officials said the library is expected to serve students, researchers and general readers while strengthening Delhi's public library network.