As US Bans Books, Nepali Youth Head to Library

www.ozy.com [OZY]( OZY A Modern Media Company Share This Sh*t November 16, 2022 Share This Sh*t [The drop]( AS US BANS BOOKS, NEPALI YOUTH HEAD TO LIBRARY In a digital world, tensions are rising over access to an unlikely resource: old-fashioned books. Sponsored by [Cariuma]( Lands of the Free Ridhi Agrawal in Biratnagar, Nepal [@ridhi_agrawal]( Advocacy groups, school board members and lawmakers across the U.S. are banning books at a [faster clip]( than has been seen in a generation or more. According to [PEN America](, an organization that seeks to protect free expression, book bans occurred in school districts in 32 states during the 2021-22 academic year, affecting nearly 4 million U.S. schoolchildren; 41% of banned titles contained LGBTQ themes and 22% had sexual content. While many in the U.S. seek to limit kids’ access to books tackling sexuality, some young people elsewhere in the world are gaining access to such materials for the very first time — and relishing the freedom. Featuring a wide selection of titles on taboo topics, Kathmandu’s [Matangi Library]( and [Junkiri Feminist Library]( are spaces that foster open conversation about issues that typically go undiscussed in Nepal, including sexuality and feminism. Both libraries feature relatively small collections — Junkiri has around 2,200 volumes, while Matangi has only a few hundred — yet they are noteworthy for featuring materials that readers cannot access elsewhere. While many in the U.S. seek to limit kids’ access to books tackling sexuality, some young people elsewhere in the world are gaining access to such materials for the very first time — and relishing the freedom. Mahima Poddar, 24, is a moderator of the Kathmandu chapter of the [Sanskaari Girls Book Club](, an international readers’ alliance that [focuses]( on works by feminist writers. She facilitates monthly book conversations that candidly address issues young people might otherwise never mention out loud. In her view, these discussions represent “a marker of where we are headed.” Nepal is a traditionally patriarchal society. Poddar says that in her mother’s generation, women were commodified. “They were seen as reproductive machines,” she told OZY. “Their problems, like fertility, loveless marriages, or their traumatic experiences, were never discussed.” While the women of her mother’s generation did not have spaces to discuss their experiences, said Poddar, “we have them now.” Perhaps surprisingly, those spaces include libraries, which are helping to transform swaths of Nepali society. This may shed light on just why books and libraries have become so controversial in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT [They’re All The Rage]( Picture this: a sneaker so versatile that it’ll have you bopping around town in the summer in style to picking apples at the orchard in the fall. 🍎 Having a sturdy sneaker that can take you from season to season and place to place is a big win in OZY’s book. That’s why we love [Cariuma’s]( OCA Low-Suede sneakers so much. With over a dozen different colorways, they provide a timeless vibe and go with anything in your closet (literally!). Not to mention, they’re a celeb favorite and have recognition from top outlets such as Vogue, Forbes, Fast Company, and more. These sneakers never go on sale (even for Cyber week), but OZY readers can get [15% off with code, OZYNOV](. [SHOP NOW]( ‘There Was So Much to Learn’ Amid the winding lanes of the Patan neighborhood, south of Kathmandu city, the Matangi Library is on the second floor of an old house whose red mud-lined walls, exposed beams and earthy smell add to the library's charm. Young readers are invited to select a book and sit on straw mats or pallets, to immerse themselves in a book against the backdrop of honking cars in the city traffic outside. Stuti Sharma, Matangi’s founder, explains how the six years she spent in the U.S. exposed her to literature that wasn’t available in Nepal. “You have to search for books here,” she told OZY, adding that if you’re lucky enough to find the book you’re seeking, it’s likely to be very expensive. This inspired her to start the Matangi Library last December. I feel a sense of freedom inside of me to discuss my perspectives at book discussions. - Dipesh Khanal In the year since it has been open, the library has become a space for workshops on topics ranging from sexuality to herbology to anarchism. She said that Matangi is intended to be a place that is inviting to all types of people, especially those who don’t find support at home or don’t have a place they can sit down to read. This past year, the library held a workshop inviting participants to reflect on their bodies and sexual experiences. “There was so much to learn about my own body,” Sharma told OZY. She said that when she was growing up, “we weren’t talking about sexuality, or our bodies, or female pleasure.” This year’s events at Matangi have focused on allowing young adults to think for themselves, which facilitators encourage by inviting participants to share their thoughts in a venue where they are not met with judgment. Dipesh Khanal is a frequent attendee who has found particular value in the library’s collection of books by South Asian writers. “Getting to read the experiences of someone Asian is helpful and relevant, as their stories are some sort of a reflection of similar happenings in my family,” said Khanal, who further noted that such reading had also encouraged their personal reflection on sexuality. Khanal, who uses the pronoun they, does not discuss sexuality with their parents, but did attend an affiliated three-month-long workshop called “QUEER: In Our Own Words” with other self-identified queer Nepali writers and artists. “I feel a sense of freedom inside of me to discuss my perspectives at book discussions,” Khanal said. Not everyone thinks that libraries are the appropriate venue for such conversations. On the other side of town, in central Kathmandu, sits Kaiser Library, home to more than 28,000 books and periodicals on topics including philosophy, astronomy, religion and biography. Suresh Kumar Yadav is head of the Kaiser Library and noted that its collection does include some titles on feminism. “But discussions on such subjects don't fall under the library’s program,” he said. ADVERTISEMENT [Fall For The Classics]( When the weather cools down and you’re left wondering what to throw on for your seasonal errand run, look no further than [Cariuma’s]( SALVAS sneakers. 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In Oklahoma’s legislature, Sen. Rob Standridge last year introduced a [bill]( to ban books that cover sexual topics from public schools and school libraries. He believes these topics are part of a wave of indoctrination of young people. “More and more schools are trying to indoctrinate students by exposing them to gender, sexual and racial identity curriculums and courses,” said Standridge in a public statement. A report by [NBC News]( found that a book called It’s Perfectly Normal, about the bodily changes of puberty, has been challenged in Texas. Such misgivings surrounding sex education are familiar in Nepal, where menstruation is stigmatized and largely considered an unmentionable topic. But books are now changing that. More and more schools are trying to indoctrinate students by exposing them to gender, sexual and racial identity curriculums and courses. - Oklahoma Senator Rob Standridge One such title is [Kumari’s Adventures with her Moon Cycle](, which [educates]( young readers about menstruation. Sophie Maliphant, who wrote the book and curated a collaborative effort in which more than 80 people from Nepal and elsewhere provided illustrations, told OZY, “There is power in creativity.” Through drawings and a narrative about Nepali characters representing an array of backgrounds, ethnicities and ages, the book is intended to speak directly to anyone who menstruates. “It invites questions from young readers about how they feel in their bodies,” she explained. The group of collaborators who created the book hold online workshops several times a year to encourage open conversations. Said Maliphant, “We have medical professionals who help to facilitate these online workshops so that young adults can seek medical support regarding menstruation or other issues.” She said they emphasize that questions are welcome. In Kathmandu, the Matangi Library has partnered with [Kaalo.101](, an artists’ space that is located next door, to inspire the newest trend in reading taboo titles: pop-up libraries. These pop-up installations display a smaller selection of books, invite passersby to grab a title and read for a while, and sometimes feature open mics or reading circles. “This attracted a lot of young, open-minded thinkers,” said Sharma, Matangi’s founder. “It’s allowed Matangi’s community to grow.” COMMUNITY CORNER Thanksgiving is fast approaching. What do you feel grateful for? Please share your story of gratitude. [SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS]( EPISODE ONE NOW STREAMING! 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