A library that boasts of nearly 16,200 books from a cross-spectrum of topics will be named after the memories of a student of class 8, who loved books and reading during her lifetime.
The memories of Sneha Iyer, daughter of Arjindar Kaur and Ananth Naryanan will be enlivened for many generations to come, once the renovated library at the Indian School Muscat (ISM) is dedicated to her fellow students by the Indian Ambassador today.
The chirpy, jovial Sneha Iyer had a fall from the 9th floor of her residence in Ruwi on Feb 3 this year before the medics proclaimed her dead on the spot exactly a month after her 13th birthday. Her sister Kavya Iyer, a class 5 student of the same school was with her when she slipped off from the terrace.
"Sneha had been a voracious reader and loved any topic printed in black and white. She loved books to the extent that she'd let all toys, pastime hobbies that her friends used to share, go for the sake of reading," her parents cherished the memories with the Observer.
She attended her last class Jan 3 after the Covid preventive lock downs slowly lifted and schools started in hybrid.
"She told me that day was the happiest day and the most unforgettable day in her life because she was able to meet with her friends dressed in school uniform after long online classes. And more importantly, she was able to walk along the corridor leading to the library and sat inside the library for some time," her mother, who was a PE teacher in the same school, adds.
"She loved the word 'funny' and underlining her liking, she was so light hearted and empathised for her co-students."
When she was in class 5 or 6, she had to break the assembly for removing a pin that posed danger on the ground and she went out of the assembly lines just to remove the same, despite her teacher's reprimanding.
"She was worried if smaller children would step on to the pin on the ground. Her teachers appreciated her for the deed and her Hindi teacher Jyothi Ganesh took her to the vice principal who showered her with praises," her mother shared the incident that made her proud.
"We are glad to be dedicating the library renovated by Sneha's parents in her name to keep her memories mostly entwined with reading, alive for the fellow students," said Rajeev Chauhan, Principal of the School.
"I always call up Sneha for any support in the library, be it arranging them or for any clarification, because she was so through with the books that we have," adds Sayeda Hussaini, librarian at the school.
Sneha was a child so attached to the school and the repertoire of books that the school library has.
"Has she had done with all the books in the library that she'd look for newer titles in the unseen world?," her friends asked.
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