Akash couldn't have the opportunities we were ready to provide him, so we decided to provide for other children.

10 years later, we have built 30 libraries in Akash's name across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, in communities that have little to no access to education. A sweet little boy who didn't have the gift of life himself has provided enormous opportunity for over 15,000 children and has lived up to his name — he is both "the sky" and "limitless" and we are incredibly proud of the legacy he has inspired. In these poverty-stricken communities, education is a child's ticket out. Akash's Libraries are truly changing lives and generations!

The literacy efforts continue in Akash's name — please join us! Please see below for further details on Akash, the birth of the library movement, and the locations of the libraries to date.

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Our son, Akash Bhattacharya Saha, was born and passed on April 5, 2014, weighing 6 pounds and measuring 20 inches, at full term. Despite this unexpected and tragic turn of events, it was a true blessing to welcome him into our family. We are confident that he knew he was loved.

For the 40 gestational weeks we carried him, Akash filled us with love, gave us great hope, and allowed us to dream big. He brought us immeasurable joy in his all too short life, and it seems only appropriate to properly commemorate his spirit and preserve his legacy. Akash (Ah-kahsh) means "the sky" or "limitless."

The day after losing Akash, the idea of Akash's Libraries was born. Passionate about education and the opportunities we had hoped to provide Akash, we were inspired to build libraries for children across the developing world in his name.

We have committed to building a series of school libraries dedicated to Akash's memory.

Akash's libraries are established in conjunction with Room to Read, a charity we have long supported and trust. We have already built 30 libraries in 10 years across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam! These libraries reach and serve over 15,000 children. More dollars — no matter the amount — means more libraries for deserving children and communities. The sky's the limit!

Everyday, the children of Akash's Libraries run into the library and race towards the bookcases for something to read. In Akash's Libraries, children read in freedom, sing songs, learn, engage, and freely experience their childhood. Akash's spirit shines bright and lives on in these thousands of smiling faces around the world.

Akash inspired us to dream big. Similarly, we have faith that Akash's libraries will bring immeasurable impact and opportunity to countless deserving children and communities through their existence.

Please consider joining us to share Akash's legacy with children that hope for the chance of an education, and a safe space to experience it. Together, we can pay opportunity forward. Please feel free to share Akash's Libraries with anyone you believe may be interested. All donations are tax deductible.

All our love,

Arati and Anu

P.S. We love you, Akash. May your legacy live on in these children and their communities forever. Communities lifted and transformed because of a little boy with a big impact — you.

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Akash's Libraries to date (each reaches 500 children):

2014: 10 built in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam
2015: 3 built in India and Vietnam
2016: 1 built in India
2017: 4 built in India
2018: 3 built in India and Vietnam
2019: 1 built in Vietnam
2020: 1 built in India
2021: 1 built in India
2022: 1 built in India
2023: 1 built in India
2024: 4 built in India