The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Historic library at Triplicane reopens for readers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Historic library at Triplicane reopens for readers

Staff Reporter

Muhammadan Public Library rebuilt from scratch

TURNING THE PAGES OF HISTORY: Governor S. S. Barnala browses through a book from the rich collection at the Muhammadan Public Library which was reopened on Tuesday. Seen with him is Prince of Arcot Mohammed Abdul Ali. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI : A historic library, the 150-years plus Muhammadan Public Library at Triplicane in Chennai, was reopened on Tuesday.

The reopening was marked by tributes to a Nawab who took the poetic title `Azam', a solemn call to promote the reading habit and snatches of Urdu shairi.

Established by Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Ghouse Khan Bahadur, who was a patron of the arts and literature, the library went out of service when the dilapidated structure on Quaid-e-Millath Salai was pulled down some years ago.

It took the concerted effort of several wellwishers, especially the committed services of library secretary Saba Mustafa, to rebuild the institution from scratch at the very same site.

The main hall has a built-up area of 2,200 sq. ft., apart from a conference hall with similar area on the third floor. The library is home to a collection of some 15,000 books on various topics with references dating back to the 18th century.

The last Nawab of the Carnatic to have resided in the Chepauk Grand Palace (Kalas Mahal) had established the public library for the promotion of Urdu, Persian, Arabic and English language and literature besides science, history and mathematics.

Today, though the inventory is still rich and rare, there is concern over the poor condition of some of the books and manuscripts in the collection.

The Governor, S. S. Barnala, struck the right note while formally reopening the library when he urged libraries to serve as `centres of learning'. "Mere collection of books and neat display will not suffice."

The Governor, who announced that he would donate 20 books to the institution, wanted the task of instilling the reading habit among the young to be taken up as a movement. N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu , called for the proper preservation of the literary wealth passed down by the Nawab.

The Prince of Arcot, Mohammed Abdul Ali, said the library should function as an independent entity under the Societies Act and not under the Wakf Board.

Bader Sayeed, chairperson, Tamil Nadu Wakf Board, was present at the function.

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