Grandfather’s tribute; books in the name of his late grandsons

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Losing young grandsons before one’s own eyes is a numbing tragedy for any grandfather. However, Abdul Jabbar Bagban chose an extraordinary path, transforming his grief into the light of knowledge. To keep alive the memory of his two grandsons who died in an accident, he has begun a chain of children’s libraries in the city.

The first children’s library was inaugurated on January 28 at Madrasa Jamia Hazrat Um-e-Salma Lilbanat in Naregaon. “Rather than building stone walls or memorials, I felt it was more meaningful to place books in children’s hands,” Abdul Jabbar said, expressing his emotions.

A heart-rending background

June 24, 2025, proved to be a dark night for the Bagban family. Abdul Jabbar’s grandsons, the late Arafat Asif Bagban (16) and the late Rehan Jameel Bagban (17), met with a horrific accident while returning from Phulambri. Their vehicle crashed into a road divider, killing both promising youngsters on the spot. Instead of succumbing to despair, their grandfather resolved to give something meaningful back to society.

‘Sadaqah-e-jariyah’

Going beyond religious rituals, Abdul Jabbar has described this initiative as sadaqah-e-jariyah,a charitable act whose benefits continue over time. He believes that when young children come to these libraries to read, his grandsons’ souls will find true peace. He received valuable support on this journey from Mirza Abdul Qayyum Nadvi, founder of the Read and Lead Foundation, under whose guidance the library was established.

Second library planned at Karmad

After Naregaon, Bagban has resolved to open a second library at Karmad. Local social worker Mirza Haroon Beg has taken the initiative and accepted responsibility for providing space. This will ensure access to quality books for students in rural areas as well.

“Our family has long been associated with the field of education. After visiting Oxford University, I realised the importance of education even more deeply. I was devastated by the loss of my grandsons, but these libraries started in their names will help shape students’ futures and that alone gives me peace.”

— Abdul Jabbar Bagban