Libraries
Library service comes under the aegis of State Governments and the States vary in their size, population, literacy rate, production of literature in regional languages and library infrastructure.
THE BEGINNING
HH Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III, Maharaja of Baroda, pioneered the development of Public Library System in India as early as 1910.The Maharaja insisted that “libraries should not limit their benefits to the few English knowing readers, but should see to it that their good work permeates through to the many”, and that “the vernacular libraries should be encouraged” so that every citizen of the State “may enrol himself as a pupil in the peoples’ university-the library. He established a Library Department with Mr. W. A.Borden as the first full time Director of State Libraries. A Central Library at Baroda with a nucleus collection of 88,764 volumes including the Maharaja’s private collection of 20,000 books was established with a full time Curator. The Maharaja also established an Oriental Institute and Library with 6,846 printed books and 1,420 manuscripts in Sanskrit, Gujarati and other languages. He was the first to initiate the publication of Gaekwad’s Oriental Series in 1915.
It is mind-boggling to learn that even a century ago the Maharaja arranged to purchase a Photostat camera and a camera projector by the State. The projector was utilized to view the silent films etc. He started Library Associations from Taluk level, organized ‘Mitra Mandal’ in the town & villages and organized regular library conferences. Mobile library service was organized to cater to the book need at remote villages.
THE DEVELOPMENT and PUBLIC LIBRARY LEGISLATION
In India, there are 54,856 public libraries starting from English Colony Library at Chennai in 1661. 1972 was declared as International Book Year with the slogan BOOKS FOR ALL.Even before Independence, Kolhapur Princely State, in the Western India passed Public Libraries Act in 1945. 19 States of the Indian Union have successfully passed the library legislation. In the coming few years, there is greater possibility for a library law being enacted in the remaining States.
RELATIONSHIP OF MINISTRY OF CULTURE
THE DEPOSIT OF BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS & ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS IN LIBRARIES BILL 2013
A new Act “The Deposit of Books, Newspapers and Electronic Publications in Libraries Bill 2013” repealing the old Act is under consideration.
THE NATIONAL MISSION ON LIBRARIES (NML)
The National Mission on Libraries (NML) was launched by the Hon.’ble President of India on 3rd February,2014. NML has a budget allocation of Rs. 400 Crores with the objective of establishing a National Virtual Library of India, establishment of Model Libraries, quantitative/ qualitative survey of Libraries and capacity building. Under the scheme, 6 libraries under the Culture Ministry, 35 Central Libraries in states and 35 District Libraries are to be developed as model libraries , with emphasis on developing these libraries in economically backward districts. Further, 629 district libraries across the states would be provided network connectivity.
COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
On the International scenario, Ministry of Culture has an agreement with more than 100 Libraries in the world for exchange of resources and personnel. The International Book Fair is held every year at New Delhi in the month of February World Book Day (23rd April) is celebrated as Vishva Pustak Diwas in India. The Jaipur Literature Festival, the biggest literary festival in Asia which attracts thousands of writers and visitors from all over the world is held in Jaipur every year in the month of January. One of the unique attractions of this festival is the live performances given by famous musicians. Jaipur Literature Festival has been taking place in Jaipur since the year 2006.
The National Library Week is celebrated from 14th to 21st November every year in India
THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE EXERCISES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION OVER SIX PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
NATIONAL LIBRARY (Ministry of Culture Government of India Kolkata)
The origins of the National Library, Kolkata begins with the establishment of Calcutta Public Library on 21st March 1836. The Imperial Secretariat Library came into existence in 1981 by integrating all Secretariat Libraries. In the year 1902, the Calcutta Public Library and the Imperial Secretariat Library were amalgamated and gave way to establishment of The Imperial Library. After Independence of India, the National Library came into being in place of Imperial Library by the “Imperial Library (Change of Name) Act” in 1948. It was accorded a special status of an Institution of National Importance in the Article 62 in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India and was opened to Public on 1st February 1953.
The origins of the National Library, Kolkata begins with the establishment of Calcutta Public Library on 21st March 1836. The Imperial Secretariat Library came into existence in 1981 by integrating all Secretariat Libraries. In the year 1902, the Calcutta Public Library and the Imperial Secretariat Library were amalgamated and gave way to establishment of The Imperial Library. After Independence of India, the National Library came into being in place of Imperial Library by the “Imperial Library (Change of Name) Act” in 1948. It was accorded a special status of an Institution of National Importance in the Article 62 in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India and was opened to Public on 1st February 1953.
The National Library serves as a permanent repository of all books, newspapers and periodicals published in India. The Library receives all publications published in the territory of India under the provisions of “the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954”. The Act was amended in 1956 to include periodical publications, newspapers and maps within its purview
It provides all possible readers’ services for 362 days of the year. Besides reading, reference and bibliographic services, books are lent out against security deposit. It also provides microfilm/microfiche reading facilities. While inter library loan is extended, the Library acts as a Centre for International loan. Consultancy services are also provided to libraries and librarians. The Library offers internship programme to the Young Post Graduates from Library and Information Science every year. The library digitized around 80,00,000 pages (25,000 books) from old, rare, brittle and important documents of the Library, which are available to the readers through Indian
Rampur Raza Library
The Rampur Raza Library is one of the important libraries of South Asia. Besides works relating to different religions, traditions, it is a treasure house of Indo-Islamic learning and arts. This library was founded by Nawab Faizullah Khan in 1774. The Nawabs of Rampur were great patrons of learning and the learned ulema, poets, painters, calligraphers and musicians – enjoyed their patronage. After the independence of India and merger of the state in the union of India, the library was brought under the management of the trust, which was created on 6th April, 1951. Professor Saiyid Nurul Hasan, former Minister of Education, Government of India, brought this library under an Act of Parliament on 1st. July, 1975.
It is having 17000 manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Pashto, Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi and Turkish languages. Moreover, it possesses a good collection of paintings and palm leaves in various Indian languages. A collection of around 60,000 printed books in various Indian and foreign languages are also available.
KHUDA BAKHSH ORIENTAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Close to the banks of the Ganges, in Patna, stands the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library. Though founded earlier, it was opened for public in October, 1891 by the illustrious son of Bihar Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh with 4,000 manuscripts, of which he inherited 1,400 from his father. Khuda Bakhsh donated his entire personal collection to the people of Patna by a deed of trust. Acknowledging the immense historical and intellectual value of its rich and valued collection, the Government of India declared the Library an Institution of National Importance by an act of Parliament in 1969. The Library, an autonomous institution is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture.
The Library is a unique repository of the past heritage, preserved in the form of manuscripts, written on paper, palm-leaf, deer-skin, cloth and sundry materials. At the same time it has a modern face, housing about printed books in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, English and Hindi, besides a few in German, French, Punjabi, Japanese and Russian. The Library combines the twin features of a centre of research in Oriental studies and a public library catering to the needs of students, youth and senior citizens. It is now developing into a digital library, with more than 2,000 Manuscripts available in digital format to reader within the library. The Library is equipped with LAN and e-mail facilities with Internet connectivity. The Library has two reading rooms, one for researchers and scholars, and the other for casual readers. The Library welcomes scholars, researchers and readers from all over the world and caters to their need. Reference service is extended through fax, phone and through the e-mail also. Services are also rendered to scholars at home and abroad through supply of microfilm, Xerox, photograph, etc. which is a special feature of this Library.
Curzon Reading Room named after Lord Curzon is open for all. A large number of newspapers, magazines in English, Urdu and Hindi, reference books and books for competitive exams are available in this Reading Room.
The Library is making relentless efforts to acquire and preserve manuscripts and book and disseminate knowledge employing all possible means. Scholarly Workshops, Symposia, Talks, Lectures and Seminars are being organised to create research-based awareness of knowledge both on National and International levels. The library promotes research activities in specific areas such as Islamic Studies, Arabic, Persian and Urdu Literature, Comparative Religion, Tibb or Unani medicine, Tasawwuf of Mysticism, History of the Islamic land, Medieval Indian History and Culture and the National movement.
Towards the dissemination of knowledge on a yet larger scale, the Library has been publishing its rarities. A full-fledged section of Research and Publication is working on relevant material. The Library has a sizeable number of its own publications to its credit. A quarterly research journal is also being published regularly since 1977.
THANJAVUR MAHARAJA SERFOJI’S SARASVATI MAHAL LIBRARY
Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvati Mahal is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest libraries in Asia. The Saraswati Library is situated within the campus of the Thanjavur Palace. Visitors can have a glimpse of preserved books and can sit and read in the library premises. The library is open to the public.
The Glorious Past:
The Saraswathi Mahal library started as a Royal Library for the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur who ruled 1535 – 1675 AD. The Maratha rulers who captured Thanjavur in 1675 patronised local culture and developed the Royal Palace Library until 1855. Most notable among the Maratha Kings was Serfoji II (1798–1832), who was an eminent scholar in many branches of learning and the arts. In his early age Serfoji studied under the influence of German Reverent Schwartz, and learned many languages including English, French, Italian and Latin. He enthusiastically took special interest in the enrichment of the Library, employing many Pandits to collect, buy and copy a vast number of works from all renowned Centres of Sanskrit learning in Northern India and other far-flung areas. Since 1918 the Saraswathi Mahal Library has been a possession of the state of Tamil Nadu. The official name of the Library is in honour of the great royal Maratha patron.
The Library has on display a rare collection of Palm leaf manuscripts and paper written in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi English and a few other languages indigenous to India. The collection comprises well over 60,000 volumes. The library supports efforts to publish rare manuscripts from the collection, as well as ensuring all volumes are preserved on microfilm. The Library has computerized the Library activities.
The Collection
The bulk of the manuscripts (39,300) are in Sanskrit, written in scripts such as Grantha, Devanagari, Nandinagari, Telugu and Tamil comprising titles in literature, music and medicine. The Library has a collection of 3076 Marathi manuscripts from the South Indian Maharastrain of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The Marathi manuscripts are mostly on paper but a few were written in Telugu script on palm-leaf. There are 846 Telugu manuscripts in the holdings, mostly on palm leaf, 22 Persian and Urdu manuscripts mostly of 19th century in the collection. The library also holds medical records of Ayurveda scholars, including patient case studies and interviews in the manuscripts classified under the Dhanvantari section. Apart from these manuscripts there are 1342 bundles of Maratha Raj records available at the Library. The Raj records were written in the Modi script (fast script for Devanagari) of the Marathi language.
A museum is located in the Library building to reveal the importance of the Library to the Public. This Museum is small but organised into sections highlighting ancient Manuscripts, Illustrated Manuscripts, Printed copies of the Original Drawings, Atlases, Thanjavur- style Paper Paintings, Canvass Paintings, Wooden Paintings, Glass paintings, Portraits of the Thanjavur Maratha kings, and the Physiognomy charts of Charles Le-Brun.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata
Objective
- To enunciate a national library policy and to help build up a national library system;
- To provide financial and technical assistance to libraries;
- To provide financial assistance to organizations, regional or national engaged in the promotion of library development;
- To promote research on library development
- To advise the Government on all matters pertaining to the library development in the country;
To propagate the adoption of library legislation in the country.
Functional Procedure
In order to improve library facilities in the country, RRRLF has adopted certain schemes of Matching and Non-Matching assistance. To avail of assistance under the Matching Scheme a State/U.T. has to participate in the programmes of the RRRLF by contributing matching share on a pre-determined basis.
CENTRAL REFERENCE LIBRARY
.The Central Reference Library (CRL), Kolkata is the National Bibliographic Agency of the country. The CRL was established as a subordinate organization under the thenMinistry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs (now Ministry of Culture) in August 1955 in the National Library campus, Kolkata. It is administered by a Librarian (redesignated as Senior Library and Information Officer) who also acts as the General Editor of its publications. The primary objective of this organization is to compile and publish the Indian National Bibliography, an authoritative record of books published in 14 different languages of India including Englishwhich is based on the receipts of books in the National Library, Kolkata under the provision of the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954. Apart from that it also publishes the Index Indiana; an index to articles in contemporary Indian language periodicals.
At present it is entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of the following objectives:
- Compilation, publication and sale of the Indian National Bibliography (INB) in Roman Script both as monthly and annual cumulations.
- Compilation and publication of language fascicules of the INB
- Compilation, publication and sale of Index Indiana which is an index to select articles appearing in current Indian Periodicals in six major languages.
Compilation and publication of Special Bibliographies in time to time.
Manuscript
ENGAGING WITH THE PAST
India’s manuscripts have for centuries captured the imagination of the world. As early as the seventh century Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang took back hundreds of manuscripts from India. Later in the late eighteenth century, the Nawab of Awadh gifted a superb illuminated manuscript of the Padshahnama to King George III of England. Today, it is considered one of the finest pieces in the Royal Collection. When the English East India Company first came to India, they acknowledged the sub-continent as the bearer of a great and rich civilization that abounded in intellectual and artistic endeavour. Great scholars took an avid interest in many facets of the culture of the sub-continent as found in the vast treasure of handwritten manuscripts on a variety of materials including palm leaf, paper, cloth and even gold and silver.
THE EARLY PHASE OF CATALOGUING
As early as 1803, the idea of a “catalogue of all most useful Indian works now in existence with an abstract of their contents” was put to the Asiatic Society (as quoted in M. L. Saini “Manuscript Literature in Indian Languages” in ILA Bulletin , 5.1, Jan-Mar 1969, pp 6-21). Four years later, H. T. Colebrook as the Society’s fourth president appealed to the Government to set aside an additional grant of five or six thousand rupees per annum to undertake such a catalogue. This early phase of cataloguing by the Orientalists took place amidst a fervent phase of institution building (the establishment of the Benarus Sanskrit College, the universities in the three Presidencies and Oriental Research Institutes among others) and the rise of Western education in India.
NEW CATALOGUS CATALOGORUM
Meanwhile, European Indologists had begun to undertake landmark translations of ancient and medieval literary and scientific works based on manuscripts they had found. F. Max Muller’s translation of the Rigveda in 1849 was one such landmark. Another was the release of Theodore Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum (“Catalogue of Catalogues”) in the years 1891-1903 of Sanskrit manuscripts that was compiled with considerable personal effort and expense. the great librarian of the Mysore institute, R. Shama Shastri, Madras University undertook the publication of the New Catalogus Catalogorum in 1937 and reached the letter ‘bh’. The project was suspended after the publication of the first fourteen volumes
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India was aware of the intellectual heritage of India took a personal interest in ensuring that the Gilgit manuscripts, to date India’s oldest manuscripts from the sixth century A.D., were brought from Kashmir to the National Archives of India to be preserved for posterity.
The National Mission for Manuscripts
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India, established the National Mission for Manuscripts in February 2003 as an ambitious project with the specific objectives of locating, documenting, conserving and disseminating the knowledge content of India’s manuscripts. A unique project in its programme and mandate, the Mission seeks to unearth and preserve the vast manuscript wealth of India. India possesses an estimate of five million manuscripts, probably the largest collection in the world. These cover a variety of themes, textures and aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations and illustrations. Together, they constitute the ‘memory’ of India’s history, heritage and thought.
The National Mission for Manuscripts revived the New Catalogus Catalogorum programme in 2003 with Madras University. Till date thirty six volumes have been published.
Working with specially identified Manuscript Resource Centres (MRC-s) and Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCC-s) in states all over the country, the Mission collects data on manuscripts located in a variety of places, from universities and libraries to temples, mathas, madrasas, monasteries and private collections.
