Malayali Opens Free Malayalam Library in Australia

A Malayali expatriate has established Australia's first dedicated Malayalam library to address the growing concern of younger generations losing connection to their native language. Siju Jacob, originally from Chingavanam in Kottayam, launched the *Kerala Nadu Library* in Orange, New South Wales on June 19, coinciding with Kerala's Reading Day.

The library, housed in a converted room of Jacob's residence, offers free book borrowing to thousands of Malayalis in Australia who struggle to access physical Malayalam literature. The collection spans Malayalam classics to contemporary releases, with a substantial children's literature section aimed at engaging younger readers.

Jacob, who has lived in Australia for over a decade, self-funded the initiative with support from family, friends, and cultural figures in India. The project directly responds to the challenge facing diaspora communities worldwide: maintaining linguistic and literary connections across generations in an increasingly globalized world where access to mother tongue resources remains limited.