Feb 29, 2008 was one of the melancholic days for many people who had developed a kind of emotional attachment with the British Council Library, which was no doubt one of the famous libraries of Bhopal.
Established on May 14, 1965, the decision of British Council to close down its library in Bhopal has taken not only the staff by surprise but the members as well. It is an unfortunate step for a city like Bhopal which is the capital of a fast developing state. Also, the literacy rate here is much higher than some of the cities where BL branches are running successfully. The questions remain unanswered as to why is the library closing down? The British Council had said it was closing down the library as part of the new policy of reducing premises and focusing on activities.
Although there are many libraries in Bhopal some of them having more books than BCL but due to starving of members they are in dilapidated conditions.
Daily only a few people visit there not for the books but for newspapers.
These libraries are facing fund problem, staff problem etc. Precious books are covered in dust because since a very long time no one even touched them.
On the closing day of BL I was really shocked when I saw many of its readers weeping. I don't think this is because of love for books; it is simply the habit and addiction to BL atmosphere. If the sorrow is for books then we should go and see the conditions of books which are still waiting for readers in other libraries like Central library, Ambedkar library, Acharya Narendra Dev library etc. Central library is one of the oldest libraries of Bhopal. Previously it was the private library of the former ruler of Bhopal and named after Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal. In 1955, the library was renamed as Maulana Azad central library, It has a good number of books which are not easily available Anywhere.
Some of the books on Indian history and literature here are very precious and we cannot find such books either at BL or in any other international library.
It is the irony of such libraries that not a single tear comes out from any eye for their present condition. These libraries also need some attention from those book lovers who gave BL the hearty farewell from their tears.
The membership fee of these libraries is much less as compared to what was charged at BL. If half of the members of BL join these libraries the condition of these libraries could improve and they can also serve in a better way.
Sharjeel Khan
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