Libraries in A.P. gathering dust

July 28, 2014 12:08 am | Updated October 24, 2016 08:03 pm IST - VIJAYAWADA:

National Knowledge Commission, in its report, said libraries have a social role in making knowledge publicly available to all. They serve as local centres of information and learning, and are gateways to national and global knowledge.

But, there are many libraries that are in neglected state with hardly any funding from the State government. Of the crores of rupees that the government spends every year on preserving history, not a penny seems to come to libraries, where rare books of the colonial rule gather dust.

Housed in dilapidated buildings with infrequent supply of electricity, shortage of staff, fund crunch, the libraries are crying for attention.

Take for instance; Ramamohan Library in Vijayawada established in 1903 wears a deserted look from outside, although it has 70 to 80 visitors every day. It has rare collection of 25,000 to 30,000 books of colonial rule. “We have approached the government for assistance and things will be fine in near future,” says library organising Secretary Ch. Koteswara Rao.

Sri Gowthami Regional Library in Rajahmundry, formed way back in 1898, has collection that dates back to 17 and 18 centuries. More than 400 manuscripts of ‘Colonel McKenzie’ and ‘Tamra Sasanalu’ of 13th and 14th centuries are available in the library. But, it is still waiting for a national status and recognition by the Ministry of Human Resources.

“We got national status for Telugu language after making relentless efforts. For getting the same status to the library may be we have to continue our struggle in residual state of Andhra Pradesh,” commented Sannidhanam Narasimha Sarma, who worked as Librarian.

Vetapalem Saraswata Niketanam was started by V.V. Shreshti in 1918 to further the cause of library movement and freedom struggle. Now it is visited by research scholars from India and abroad for reference material. The books in the library run by 80-year-old K. V. D. Mallikarjun Rao has been digitised for the benefit of researchers who get a new insight on visiting the library. He prefers to run the library with liberal contributions from book lovers, scholars and philanthropists.

The Besant Theosophical College Library at Madanapalle is gearing up for its centenary celebrations this year. College principal K. Kizar Mohamed says, “The library has nearly 2 lakh books of various streams. Some of the rarest books dating back to centuries are also available.” The original manuscript of the English translation of National Anthem Jana Gana Mana by Ravindranath Tagore is among the proud collections. Andhra Sahitya Parishad library established by historian and writer Jayanthi Ramayya Panthulu in Kakinada in 1911 needs a facelift. The government sanctioned Rs. 4 crore for the renovation of the library and to provide chemical treatment to rare palm scripts available in the library. But, the works are not progressing well due to administrative reasons. Another library at Pithapuram, Sri Suryaraya Viswananda Grandhalayam, is celebrating its centenary this year.

(With inputs from G.V.R. Subba Rao, S.Murali, B.V.S. Bhaskar, K. Umashanker, and K. N. Murali Sankar)

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