Malayalam gets a cosy space in Australian public library

Members of the small, closely knit Malayali expatriate community in Blacktown City — a council in the suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales — now walk into the sprawling Max Webber Public Library, spread over 5,500 square metres, with a sense of pride.

On May 22, the library — one of the five main libraries under the Blacktown City Council network — introduced an exclusive Malayalam section featuring 450 titles across genres. A smaller collection has also been made available at the Dennis Johnson Library, also part of the network.

“As a second-generation immigrant, this collection acts as a bridge between my two cultures, combining storytelling and language; two things I love. As someone who strives daily to improve my Malayalam, I plan to use this collection to improve my reading skills,” says Anvika, 16, originally from Kannur.

The first wave of Malayali immigrants began arriving in the city in the 1960s, and today they are largely employed in the IT and health-care sectors. According to the last census, Blacktown City has a Malayali population of around 2,500, though it is assumed to have increased much since then. However, it remains far smaller compared to other Indian communities.

30th language

“That is precisely why the opening of a Malayalam section in the city’s largest library is such a recognition. Blacktown is home to people from nearly 180 countries. Malayalam has now become the 30th language represented in the library, alongside six Indian languages — Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu. The collection is now part of a repository of nearly one lakh resources, including audio-visual content,” said Emie Roy, a project manager originally from Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district. She, along with Prakash Palakkil, Johnson Philip, and Satheesh Kumar, formed the four-member working group constituted by the council to organise the launch.

The inauguration was a vibrant showcase of Kerala’s culture, complete with a Mohiniyattom performance, folk songs by children, a recitation of Murukan Kattakkada’s poetry, and traditional ‘chendamelam.’ Popular Kerala snacks were also served to participants. Around 130 members of the Malayali community attended.

“The library will preserve our language, reconnect generations, and strengthen the sense of belonging among Malayalis settled here. I also hope it becomes a space where children born in Australia can discover Malayalam literature, while adults revisit the books that shaped their childhood,” says Sandhya Ginni, 45, an IT manager from Thrissur.

The community’s consistent demand for Malayalam books prompted the council to fund a dedicated section. The titles were sourced through the library’s regular supplier of Indian books and are displayed together without genre divisions. With a strong community response, the council may continue the funding, with future selections tailored to the community’s’ interests.

“The library will be invaluable for Malayalis who may have heard of acclaimed authors but never had the time to read them,” observes George Vilson, 77, a retiree from Guruvayur.

The section is also expected to help Malayali children forge a connection with their mother tongue and culture. With more children’s books, the collection could further the activities of the three Malayalam community language schools in the Sydney suburbs run by volunteers from the diaspora.