📰 Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport 📚
- MediaFx
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
TL;DR:Bhubaneswar’s Biju Patnaik Airport now hosts India’s first “Take‑a‑Book” Flybrary—two unmanned shelves (Departure & Arrival), free access, trust‑based borrowing 📖🙏. No fees, no barcodes, just bring a book or pick one up and return it later. Already 600+ book journeys since Feb 2025. #TravelKindness
✍️ Main Story
1. What Happened?
In February 2025, the Bakul Foundation launched Flybrary at Bhubaneswar Airport—the first truly take‑a‑book facility at an Indian airport. Travelers can borrow books for free and return them later, no registration or charges.
There are two shelves, one each in Arrivals and Departures, stocked with around 300–600 books in English, Hindi & Odia—novels, children’s titles, self‑help, and magazines like National Geographic.
2. Flashback / Context
The Flybrary builds on previous efforts by Bakul Foundation—like Little Tree Library, Library in a Fridge, and public libraries in parks and markets across Odisha.
The idea was shared during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and gained support from officials such as Usha Padhee and the Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan.
3. Who Gains & Who Loses?
Gains: Travellers get time‑pass and reading pleasure; children and regional language readers benefit; volunteers spread culture.
No losers—but the challenge is sustaining book supply unless donations grow enough to replace restocking.
4. People’s Angle
Youth, gig‑workers, and students traveling get free knowledge and calm. 🙌
A parent or child stuck in transit can find a distraction that inspires.
Book lovers can donate titles, turning a travel routine into a reading revolution. ₹0 cost.
IMD head Mrutyunjay Mohapatra picked How to Win Friends from the shelf at random, visibly moved—he intends to return it himself. His joy echoes many others'.
5. MediaFx Take
Bro, this isn’t about airport glam—it’s about building community, not commerce. Every book left becomes a bridge between strangers. This is trust in action, not vending machines. It's also a mini‑training ground for empathy and generosity: “slip in an extra copy of what you love; someone will find it exactly when it matters.” 🌍 #PeopleFirst
