National Library of India, Kolkata comes to city

 

 

 

Stall number 300 at the Nagpur Book Festival 2025 in Reshimbag is now-a-days drawing attention for a unique reason; it represents the National Library of India, based in Kolkata, the largest library in South Asia and the biggest in India by volume and public records. In this inaugural Nagpur Book Festival, the stall is representing the rich cultural heritage of India and its presence in the second capital of Maharashtra is to make people aware about its nation-wide work in the field of conserving Indian literature. In conversation with The Hitavada, Praful Mahajan, staff of National Library of India, explained that the Library, as we know it today, came into existence in 1948 after the Imperial Library and Calcutta Public Library were merged.

 

“The scale of the collection is massive, with over 28 lakh books, along with countless newspapers, magazines, manuscripts, and an antique collection with items more than 300-400 years old,” said Mahajan. He said, “It is heartbreaking to know that universities like Takshashila and Nalanda were filled with centuries worth of priceless knowledge that is now lost to time, but we are again aiming to preserve our cultural heritage at that scale. The more momentum we gather, the more people outside Kolkata will know that a resource centre this magnificent exists in our country, and it is accessible from anywhere.”

 

Even today, researchers, students, and scholars, including visitors from outside India, continue to rely on the National Library because of the authenticity and depth of its database. The library also preserves texts in the old ‘Modi script’, which existed around 100 to 125 years ago in regions like Maharashtra and Gujarat. “Membership is simple. Reading inside the library is completely free. For borrowing books, a refundable deposit of 1.5 times the cost of the book is required, and the amount is returned when the membership is terminated,” said the National Library staff. They have recently started working on digitalising their collection as well, and have now uploaded over 5,000 books, all of which are free. Speaking about the relevance of libraries in a digital age, Mahajan said, “Writers across the world have repeatedly emphasised the importance of reading, and every good writer is also an avid reader. It is my hope and belief that while people do adapt to technology, they never let go of books.” For visitors at the festival, Stall number 300 offers a rare opportunity to understand the scale and importance of this national treasure, and to explore how accessible it truly is.