NAGPUR: While Nagpur is still shaking off its sleep, a bunch of youngsters walks along the banks of the Pili river, notebooks tucked under their arms. Their route takes them past stone pathways and cremation grounds. But they are not part of any funeral procession; they are headed to a study centre that sits just 20m away from burning pyres.At Nari Takshashila Nirvan Ghat crematorium in north Nagpur, the municipal corporation runs one of the city’s most unusual public spaces — a two-storey, 5,000sqft library-cum-study centre that has become a sanctuary for aspirants preparing for some of India’s toughest competitive exams.In neighbourhoods where cramped rooms, shared spaces, and constant noise leaves little room for concentration, silence feels like a luxury. The slowmoving Pili, flanked by nearly 1,500 trees, creates a hush that envelops the study centre like a blanket. Two old wells and a modest idol of Lord Shiva add to the stillness that is only broken intermittently by the crackle of wood pyres and cries of grief.The space came about from an idea floated by former corporator Manoj Sangole — that, more than a library, it was a peaceful study environment that the youths needed. “A crematorium is usually associated with endings,” Sangole says. “But this place could give young people a chance to begin.” The proposal found support within the civic body and was executed in 2017, during the tenure of then-standing committee chairman Dayashankar Tiwari.Built at a cost of Rs 92 lakh, the centre features the usual paraphernalia of a reading room, while the civic body provides 18 daily newspapers, a vital resource for competitive exam aspirants. The students themselves bring their own books.On most days, around 25 to 30 students can be found studying here. Rohit, 23, is preparing for banking exams and is one of the early arrivals. “At home, there is noise and constant disturbance. So it’s difficult to concentrate there. Here, the environment itself forces you to focus,” he says.For railways aspirant Priya, the location initially felt unusual. “But once you sit here, you realise how calm it is,” she says. “It doesn’t feel morbid. It feels motivating,” adding that her noisy neighbourhood makes it difficult for her to study. “So, the centre becomes the best place to study without distraction.”During study breaks, students walk along the riverbank, stretch at a ‘green gym’ on the premises, or simply sit under the trees. “It clears your head,” says UPSC aspirant Ankit. “You come back to your desk with a fresh mind.”The study centre already boasts a few success stories. Vipin Lamsonge, once a regular here, has secured a railway job, while Deepak Khorgade has made it to Indian Navy. Caretaker Meena Khaparde says the number of students fluctuates as batches move on. “Many who studied here are now employed,” she says. Among the current regulars is Samayak Sangode, a NEET aspirant from Kadu Layout, who has been coming here for over a year. Class 12 student Anshul Rangari calls it “the most peaceful place I have ever studied in”.Sandhya Nagdeote, who oversees the facility, says the aim was never to create a conventional library. “This place was developed to give students a platform to prepare for govt jobs,” she says. “Books can be arranged individually, but silence cannot.” The centre operates from 7am to 7pm every day. A proposal of Rs 25 lakh for two additional sheds is pending, which could increase seating capacity.
