Historical Development of Libraries in India
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| Historical Development of Libraries in India: UGC NET |
Ancient and Medieval Periods:
Ancient Libraries: The early libraries in India were often associated with religious institutions such as temples, monasteries, and universities.
The Nalanda University Library (4th–5th century) was among the most famous, with an extensive collection of manuscripts in multiple languages like Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan.
Takshashila University (5th century BCE): An ancient center of learning with a rich collection of scholarly texts.
Jain and Buddhist Libraries: Libraries such as those at Valabhi University and Vikramashila were also notable for their extensive manuscript collections.
Medieval Islamic Libraries: During the Mughal period, Akbar (1556–1605) and Aurangzeb established large collections of books, especially Islamic texts.
The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library (1891), in Patna, holds rare manuscripts from this era.
Colonial Period:
Asiatic Society of Bengal Library (1784): Founded by Sir William Jones in Kolkata, this library is one of the earliest institutions aimed at promoting Oriental studies and research in India.
Fort William College Library (1800): Established by Lord Wellesley, this library played a significant role in translating Indian languages for British officers, forming a link between education and governance.
Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society Library (1830): It was an important library in Bombay (now Mumbai), preserving ancient texts and manuscripts.
Imperial Library (1891): Established by the British Government, this library combined the collections of several institutions, becoming the largest library in India. In 1953, it was renamed as the National Library of India, now located in Kolkata.
Post-Independence Period:
Delhi Public Library (1951): Established with UNESCO assistance, it was one of the earliest public libraries in independent India, providing access to a broad range of reading material.
National Library of India (1953): This was developed from the Imperial Library, serving as a national repository of India's literary heritage and acting as a central reference library.
Connemara Public Library (1896): Located in Chennai, it became one of the four National Depository Libraries in India after independence.
Rampur Raza Library (1774): Founded by Nawab Faizullah Khan, it became a major center for Indo-Islamic culture and is now a significant research institution.
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Citations:
[1] [PDF] A Study of Public Libraries in India: Pre-Independence Period https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8446&context=libphilprac
[2] 1 History of Academic Libraries in India https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/lisp11/chapter/chapter-1/
[3] NATIONAL LIBRARY (Ministry of Culture Government of India Kolkata) https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/national-library-india
[4] Committees and Commissions in India on Libraries and Library Science ... https://www.librarianshipstudies.com/2020/05/committees-and-commissions-in-india-on.html
[5] 35:Library Commissions and Committees in India http://theindianlibrarian.blogspot.com/2021/01/library-commissions-and-committees-in.html
[6] History and Development of Libraries.pptx - SlideShare https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/history-and-development-of-librariespptx/258141508
[7] (PDF) Historical Development of Libraries | Bhartiya Shodh https://www.academia.edu/11998396/Historical_Development_of_Libraries
[8] Library related commissions and committees https://librarysciencewithrakeshmeena.blogspot.com/2021/07/library-related-commissions-and.html