9 Heritage Libraries That Serve As Spaces For Community, Knowledge And Civic Engagement

From pickling to passing on knowledge, preservation as a practice has been intrinsic to Indian communities. Libraries are also such spaces of preservation. More than just repositories of books and papers, Indian libraries have been hubs for civic engagement and cultural discussions. Imagine — what Twitter is to us now, libraries were to our grandparents. 

In an age when almost anything you wish to know is available at the click of a button, it is difficult to fathom how important libraries have been as banks of ideas, cultures, faiths and thoughts, in the journey of human civilisation. Public libraries are a reflection of knowledge and knowledge gaps in and between societies. India, too, has had its share of great libraries, all of them storehouses of knowledge and wisdom. Here is a Homegrown guide to some of India’s legacy libraries that continue to exist as powerhouses of knowledge.

I. Saraswathi Mahal Library

Where: Rajakrisnapuram, Thanjavur

In 1675, the Marathas captured Thanjavur, but continued to promorte local art, literature and culture. Established by the Nayak dynasty originally, Maharaj Serfoji’s Saraswathi Mahal Library flourished under the patronage of the Maratha rulers, and currently has about 47,334 palm leaves and paper manuscripts in Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Marathi, and English languages. In addition to this, it contains a collection of books, maps, paintings on multiple aspects of literature, culture and Carnatic music. It is one of the few remaining medieval libraries that still exist and supports initiatives that go towards the publishing of manuscripts.

Library Timings: 10:00 am to 01:00 pm, and 01:30 pm to 05:30 pm. It remains closed on Wednesdays and national holidays.

Rare Books and Manuscripts In Holding: The 1791 Pictorial Bible from Amsterdam & Dr. Samuel Johnson's 1784 dictionary.

II. Raza Library

Where: Quilla, Rampur

Established by the Nawab of Rampur, Faizullah Khan in 1774, the Rampur Raza Library has an unparalleled collection of manuscripts, historical documents, early Islamic calligraphy specimens, astronomical instruments, and rare illustrated works in Arabic, and Persian languages. Nawab Hamid Ali Khan, in 1957, shifted the library to Hamid Manzil and made it available for the public. Remarkably constructed, the library building has influences of European architecture and was built using local materials.

Library Timings: 10:00 am to 05:00 pm Monday to Saturday, 10:15 am to 6:30 pm on Sundays. It remains closed on Fridays and national holidays.

Rare Books and Manuscripts In Holding: Sumair Chand’s Persian Ramayana written in gold and precious stones.

III. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library

Where: Patna University Campus, Patna

Khuda Bakhsh Public Library is truly what you'd call a public library. During the communal tensions of the 20th century, the collection at this library was also were essential in constructing the idea of a homeland for Muslim intellectuals. Unlike the aristocratic collections at Raza Library, Khuda Bakhsh Library, established by the Bakhsh family’s collection and Khuda Bakhsh in 1891, stands as a testament to the manuscript collecting culture of the Mughals, and the common man’s contribution to Indian knowledge banks. Called The Oriental Public Library initially, Khuda Bakhsh began his own collection much later, in response to a rivalry between him and the Rampur Nawabs. 

The library is currently an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. 

Library Timings: 09:30 am to 05:00 pm. It remains closed on Fridays and national holidays.

Rare Books and Manuscripts In Holding: The only extant copy of the Tarikh-e-Khandan-e-Timuriyah (the Timur-Nama).

IV. Connemara Public Library

Where: Pantheon Road, Chennai

In March 1886, Lord Connemara of the Madras Presidency sensed a need for books and community education, which gave birth to a free public library, now called the Connemara Public Library. One of the four Indian National Depository Libraries, students from all over the city flock into the library for rare research publications, and its stunning green surroundings are the absolute best way to escape the city’s heat.  

Built by Henry Irwin, this Indo-Saracenic construction currently houses 6 lakh books and maps. Unfortunately, Irwin’s library cannot be seen from the inside due to public visiting restrictions.

Library Timings: 08:00 am to 08:00 pm on all days. 

Rare Books and Manuscripts in Holding: Under the provision of Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act 1954, every publisher in India has to compulsorily send a copy of each publication to the library. It also houses a rare 1608 Bible.

V. National Library of India

Where: Alipore, Kolkata

Formerly the Imperial Library, the National Library of India is also one of the four Indian National Depository Libraries. The library was created as a result of an amalgamation between the Imperial Secretariat Library and Calcutta Public Library in 1903 and is considered the biggest library in the country. The National Library serves as a permanent repository of all books, newspapers and periodicals published in India. 

Library Timings: 09:00 am to 08:00 pm on weekdays. 09:30 am to 06:00 pm on weekends and public holidays. 

VI. Goschen Library

Where: Chintadripet, Chennai

In 1925, the Corporation of Madras made it a mandate to have a reading room in every district of city, to deal with the growing demand. This created the Goschen Library building, which was originally established as a public hall and library in 1927 by Shri Vijayaraghavulu Chetty to promote reading among the local community. It also served as a venue for nationalist meetings and public events. 

Eventually, it was named in honor of Lady Goschen, the wife of George Goschen, the then Governor of Madras, who laid the foundation stone for the library. Read more about the Goschen Library here. 

Library Timings: 08:00 am to 11:30 am, and 04:00 pm to 07:00 pm. Remains closed on Fridays and national holidays.

VII. Hardayal Municipal Public Library

Where: Chandni Chowk, Delhi

The library was established in 1862 as part of a reading room for British officials. In 1902, it was renamed as Delhi Public Library and shifted to a smaller space. In 1912, post an attack on Viceroy Lord Hardinge during a processions, he escaped unharmed, calling for a celebration in the form of a committee to build a public library. The library was built and renamed Hardinge Municipal Public Library in 1916 when it was shifted to the new building. In 1970, it was renamed to Hardayal Municipal Public Library after the Old Delhi resident and freedom fighter Lala Har Dayal. The library still has a quaint old-world charm and is one of the few libraries in the world with a collection of at least 8000 rare books as well as some early British Indian travelogues.

Library Timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm on all days. Remains closed on public holidays.

Rare Books and Manuscripts in Holding: Gold Illuminated Persian manuscript of Abul Fazl Faizi’s Mahabharata as well as a Quran from the16th-17th century Mughal period, a 1634 edition of Thomas Herbert’s A Relation of Some Yeares Travaile, and Lallulal’s Prem Sagar written in Braj Bhasha.

VIII. Asiatic Society Library

Where: Fort, Mumbai

Established in 1804, the Asiatic Library is a holy grail is adapting Greek and Roman architectural styles. The library holds over a hundred thousand books, out of which thousands are classified as rare. It has a special collection of palm leaf manuscripts in Sanskrit and Perisan, a coin collection and over 1300 maps.

Library Timings: 09:00 am to 07:00 pm. Remains closed on Sundays and national holidays.

Rare Books and Manuscripts in Holding: Firdausi's Persian manuscript — Shahnama and one of the only two original copies of Dante's Divine Comedy.

IX. Eloor Libraries

Where: Multiple branches, Kochi

While national libraries are irreplaceable, legacy lending libraries create an intersectional space between bigger libraries and accessibility. Eloor Libraries established in 1976, remains a nostalgic home for avid readers. What started out as a mere collection of 5000 books, soon became a community of knowledge for academics, students, and professionals. The library currently is home to 70,000 books and has been housing readers and bookworms for years, with the same amount of warmth. Read more about Eloor Libraries here. 

There are possibly many more forgotten libraries in our country, lost to strife and neglect. From The Asiatic Society Library in Kolkata and Mumbai to Anna Library (one of the biggest in South Asia) in Chennai— regardless of their age, the conditions and loneliness of these libraries makes one wonder— are libraries relevant anymore? 

Although it's easy to be skeptical, it's important to remember that these libraries hold within them memories of civic evolution and community knowledge, both intangible and often undocumented. Now, more than ever, it is essential we revive these spaces and the communities they come with.

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