ROHTAK: Jindran in Haryana’s Rohtak district has been home to many successes. Kargil war martyr Naik Balwan Singh saw IPS officer Sagar Preet Hooda, now DGP of Chandigarh, studying in his government school. UP’s Moradabad-posted Additional District and Sessions Judge Surinder Kumar and PGIMS Rohtak eye specialist Dr Ramesh Hooda once played on their streets. However, one ultimate ambition still eludes the village: to produce its first IAS officer. This mission has been quietly underway for the past eight years inside what was once a bustling ‘baraat Ghar’, alive with wedding celebrations, folk music and community gatherings. Refusing to wait for government help, nearly 25 professionals working with Utthan Yuva Vikas Samiti, a local club, with contributions from the community, converted the old hall into a modern, air-conditioned library. It is now equipped with Wi-Fi, computers, CCTV surveillance and thousands of books, all available for free. A local teacher, Sunita Rani, was chosen from among three candidates to lead the academic side. Every evening, it offers free coaching, helps students with their homework and tutors aspirants for competitive exams, saving many families the cost of private tuition. Running the facility costs close to 50,000 rupees each month, which covers staff salaries, electricity, internet and maintenance. These expenses are borne voluntarily by the members of the youth club, while the village panchayat offers its full support. “The village owns this library and all students are welcome here, irrespective of caste or gender,” says Surender Hooda, who serves as block education officer in the district. Chandigarh DGP Sagar Preet Hooda, who studied at the Village Government School till Class VIII, believes that giving back to the next generation is a responsibility. “There is no dearth of talent in rural areas. They just need an enabling environment, the right platform and career guidance at the right time. People like me are simply trying to provide this to our children,” he says. Promila Devi, the village sarpanch, believes the library has reshaped local life. “Evenings that once saw idle youth now witness students engrossed in books. Their impact is reflected in success stories like Somveer Singh, who prepared here before becoming a government teacher in 2025, and Indu Hooda and Ishika Rani, who cracked NEET in 2024 and 2024 and 2023. alternative to traveling nearly 20 km to Rohtak for coaching,” he said. say Today, the building is filled with the quiet energy of students turning pages, attending coaching classes and preparing for exams, dreaming of becoming Jindran’s first IAS officer.