How Dubai librarian from Kerala turned his everyday life into UNESCO-praised bestseller from school desk

Dubai: Not every global movement starts with a CEO, a think tank, or a tech billionaire. Sometimes it starts with a librarian who simply refuses to think small.

Meet M.O. Raghunath — longtime IB curriculum librarian at GEMS Modern Academy, Malayalam author, serial book lover, award magnet, and the man who just turned an academic project into a globe-spanning, UNESCO-appreciated literary phenomenon.

Yes, you read that right. A school librarian. A UNESCO nod. A student anthology. And a project that snowballed in the best possible way.

When Raghunath first began compiling student stories, he wasn’t trying to change the world. He was doing what libraries do best — giving young voices space to breathe. But somewhere between editing drafts, coordinating across time zones, and believing wholeheartedly in his students, the project took on a life of its own.

"It was my passion project. I saw that there was no book around the subject of IB curriculum and I went into it because I wanted to change that. But being recognised by UNESCO is a dream come true and to take it to Sharjah International Book Fair was even better," said MO Raghunathan.

Earlier this week on November 12, his book launch at SIBF 2025 was met with fanfare akin to a blockbuster release.

His Highness Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, did the honours. Literary heavyweights, school leaders, and industry insiders filled the room. And there was Raghunath — the quiet force behind it all — watching a modest idea bloom into a true global showcase.

The anthology features 66 short stories from 60 countries — yes, six continents represented, minus Antarctica (penguins were apparently busy).

The writers? Teenagers. Young, wildly imaginative, emotionally fearless storytellers painting their worlds — from Africa’s savannahs to Europe’s cobblestones to South America’s rainforests — all filtered through the lens of youthful wanderlust.

Raghunath calls it “a global movement of storytelling that transcends borders and celebrates the shared humanity that unites us all.”
Translation: kids have range. And they have something to say.

He even announced he’s donating his royalties from the book to UNESCO — because if you’re going global, you may as well go all the way.

The project didn’t just make waves locally. It got the attention of UNESCO, which formally appreciated the anthology for promoting intercultural dialogue, educational empowerment, and youth creativity. Not your everyday shout-out.

For Raghunath, the recognition is both surreal and deeply meaningful. Librarians don’t often get global spotlights — but when they do, they tend to earn them the hard way.

A visual feast, courtesy of Dubai’s young artists

Move over adult illustrators — this book has its own Dubai-grown creative squad.

Students from GEMS Modern Academy and GEMS Our Own Indian School brought the anthology to life with vibrant illustrations.
The lineup reads like a rising-star roster: Hannah Dennis, Bahman Ashrat Bharucha, Drishil Jain, Anushka Shah, Laranya Gupta, Saesha Kapoor, Dhriti Attavar, Ananya Mehta, Sreya Nair, Hanaya Ahuja, Ganga Raghunath, and Ishan Raghunath.

Each artwork adds mood, personality, and colour — the kind of visual storytelling that makes you linger on a page long after the text ends.

And the cover? Designed by Grade 12 student Grace Dennis, who managed to capture wanderlust, unity, and teenage creative energy in one striking illustration. Consider it the anthology’s passport stamp.

Librarians often say books can change the world. Raghunath actually put that belief to the test — and the world answered back.

From Kerala to Dubai to UNESCO’s radar, his journey reflects what the UAE loves best: bold ideas, big ambition, and people who quietly dream in XXL.

Whispers of Wanderlust is now more than a book. It’s a movement, a platform, and a reminder that sometimes the loudest ideas come from the softest-spoken people.

And yes — it all started at a library desk.