Library is the heartbeat of people, society or any country. A quality library is the protector of human intellect, the guardian of aesthetics and the gateway to the endless realms of knowledge. In every corner of the world, these libraries are silent guardians of civilisation, embodying humanity's collective knowledge, aspirations and dreams. A library is a storehouse of knowledge where literature, history, economics, science and philosophy are spread. They are just waiting for readers to embark on an intellectual journey of exploration and enlightenment. Libraries are vibrant centres of learning, enlightenment and discovery. It is an excellent place to nurture the thirst for knowledge. A sanctuary for intellectual growth and self-discovery. Here, one finds ultimate contentment, classical learning, dreams and hopes of life, the source of knowing the unknown and the timeless value of intellectual freedom. A library can become a sanctuary of the mind, where imagination soars, curiosity is nurtured, and the boundaries of possibility expand. There is no substitute for nurturing libraries to address the complexities of the modern world truly. These libraries can become essential pillars of enlightenment, empowerment and social progress. The most excellent libraries in the world stand as monuments to human excellence and achievement. Each library has its unique legacy and immeasurable impact on society. From the ancient treasures of Alexandria to the modern marvels of the digital age, these institutions have shaped history and enriched human life.
Famous libraries in different countries of the world stand as witnesses of the development of human civilisation. One such iconic institution is the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., often called the most extensive library in the world. Crammed with millions of books, manuscripts, maps, and multimedia, this massive library has been a beacon of knowledge, symbolising America's commitment to intellectual freedom and democratic ideals. This is an invaluable resource for scholars, researchers and policymakers—custodians of the country's cultural, social, economic and political heritage. Similarly, the British Library in London, the National Library of China, the German National Library, the Bibliothèque National de France in Paris, the National Library of Russia, and the Alexandria Library in Egypt have innumerable collections of books, including rare manuscripts, historical documents, literary archives, modern publications and digital archives. For scholars, these libraries are like a great place of pilgrimage. The world's best libraries are not mere repositories of books but custodians of knowledge, centres of intellectual freedom and catalysts of social progress. These libraries enrich the lives of individuals and communities, inspire creativity and innovation, and open the way to a deeper and more accurate understanding of the world in which we live. These are the custodians of our past, the caretakers of our present and the architects of our future.
There is such a vast, knowledge-rich library in Bangladesh. But many of us have not heard its name. Even the many learned scholars of the region where it is situated may not have been lucky enough to go there and drink a little peace of mind from this nectar of knowledge. But last year, I had the privilege of spending some time there. Some of the key people of the library, including the head curator of that library, were also interviewed. Today, I will shed some light on the famous Rammala Library.
Rammala Library is a more than hundred-year-old library located in Comilla city. Mahapran Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya established a small-scale Ishwar Pathshala Toll and a library of Sanskrit scriptures in the living room of his house in 1912. Later, this library became known as Rammala Library. In the beginning, Pandit Gurucharan Tarkadarshantirtha used to regularly supply necessary books for the library from Calcutta as per Mahesh Chandra's wishes and from Kashidham Pandit Annadacharan Tarkachuramani. The Rammala Library is proudly located in the heart of Comilla town, in a peaceful and pleasant environment with a spacious area near the Comilla Board of Education. This library is enriched with over twelve thousand printed books and about nine thousand handwritten books on literature, culture, history, geography, philosophy, Religion and other branches of knowledge. Handwritten manuscripts on palm leaves are mostly medieval literature. In addition, rare Bengali language magazines are also preserved in this library. Bengali Weekly-Bangabasi, Hitabadi, Sanjibani, Monthly-Sahitya Parishad, and Pravasi, including Saturday Letter, Mouchak, and Purbasha topics, are also found here, which are not available in other libraries of Bangladesh. Still, old copies of Sanskrit Aryaprabha are preserved here.
Rammala Library has an unparalleled collection of books on comparative religious theory. In this section, books related to ancient and modern world religions, including Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh, Jain, Jewish, Persian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian, are preserved. But there is a vast library of books on Indian culture. The manuscripts of Vedanta scriptures to Puranas, smriti, poetry, drama, grammar, philosophy-history, astrology, Vedic scriptures, Artha scriptures, translations of various religious texts, and books on studying Eastern and Oriental scholars have been preserved. The multiple sections of the library have a collection of school and college textbooks on Religion, philosophy, history, behaviour, and ethics, manuscripts of rare ancient Sanskrit, Bengali manuscripts and numerous paintings of the best Indian artists of Indian education and culture. This Rammala library is like a sanctuary of knowledge. The library is famous among researchers from home and abroad due to its rare collection. Researchers from the USA, England, Ireland, and Japan have visited this library at various times and have used it effectively. In 1937, Mr J George, I.C.S. Additional Magistrate, Tipperah proudly said about the Rammala Library, "What impressed me most on this first visit was the library. While I cannot claim to speak of those on Sanskrit literature & learning, the range of books on comparative Religion seems extraordinary in a place such as Comilla. Indeed, I do not expect to find a better library on the subject anywhere in Bengal." (Rashmohan Chakraborty Smarakgrantha, 2007).
The founder of this famous library is Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya, a learned man from Bitghar village of Nabinagar upazila of Comilla district. His birthplace, Bitghar, has been advanced in the field of education since ancient times. Born from a low-income family, Mahesh Bhattacharya could not continue his education and migrated to Comilla to make a living at an early age. Jumped into the struggle of life. He was focused on work to earn money. All sufferings and obstacles are welcomed with smiles, and they move forward with time. When he was lucky enough to save some money, he immediately started a company called 'Bhattacharya & Co.' and started the business of homoeopathic medicines. Since then, he has not looked back. Keep moving forward. Due to hard work and perseverance, one day, he became wealthy. He was gradually engaged in social welfare work. Later, with his money, he built Nivedita School and Student Residence, Bitghar Shiksha Sangsad, Ishwar Pathshala, Rammala Library and Museum and a hostel Rammala hostel for students. Mahesh Chandra's maternal grandfather, Pranakrishna Shiromani, was a famous scholar.
Father Ishwardas Tarkasiddhanta was a gifted scholar. Despite poverty, he kept 10/15 students at home, took responsibility for their maintenance, and taught them. Janani Rammala Devi used to cook and feed everyone with her own hands. Mother had a great passion for education. She was not educated but she was happy with the interest of others. So, the library was named after his mother. Founded by Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya and currently managed by the Mahesh Charitable Trust, the library aims to promote education and preserve Bengali culture. He brought Mr. Rashmohan Chatterjee from Chandpur to Comilla to look after the Rammala Library. Rashmohan Chatterjee looked after the Rammala Library like his own child. He died on the 14th of May 1982. He was unmarried and fond of reading to gain knowledge. With Mahesh Bhattacharya's funding and Rashmohan's earnestness, Rammala was transformed into a research centre.
Rammala Library was severely damaged twice in a row. First in 1947 when India and Pakistan split, and again in 1971 when Bangladesh seceded from Pakistan. As a result, many things were lost from the Rammala library. Around the dilapidated library, inside and out. Ancient manuscripts are isolated and piled in dust due to a lack of care and proper maintenance. All these rare manuscripts are kept in rooms with glassless windows and leaky ceilings. It is our national responsibility to preserve this valuable collection. We all have to spread knowledge about its contents. It is imperative to take early steps to help protect it overall. However, since Bangladesh's independence in the 1980s, limited efforts have been made to preserve the manuscripts, including some microfilming and general classification of manuscripts. Despite these promises from early efforts, the collection's full scope remains unknown. Dr. Benjamin Fleming, University of Pennsylvania, brought together an international team of scholars to catalogue more than six thousand Sanskrit, Bengali, and Prakrit palm-leaf and paper manuscripts through the Rammala Library Manuscripts Project. Around 100 rare and vulnerable manuscripts were restored and digitised from this collection of unique materials. A significant future preservation and digitisation project requires special efforts to arrange for digital images of selected items to be brought online.
The Rammala Library is a treasure trove of information for the people who live in the region. This library is located in the centre of Comilla, in an atmosphere that is secluded, peaceful, and stunning from the outside. It serves as the foundation of civilisation and the point at which the past and the future meet. It provides people who are looking for wisdom with the opportunity to access an infinite number of options. Upon entering through the gate, one's thoughts are immediately taken in by the splendour of the magnificent front yard. The Ishwar Pathshala, the Rammala Hostel, the Rammala Library, and the Nivedita School and Hostel are all located inside the same quadrilateral. There is a Nat mandir (temple) where students pray for the well-being of humanity daily, regardless of their status, creed, or caste. A field in front of the Nat Mandir. Immediately adjacent to the field is a pond. With the support of the government, a brand-new dormitory has been constructed just adjacent to the site. The Rammala Library is a rare sanctuary of enlightenment, a proud identity of Bengal, and the heartbeat of the people who live in the region. Maintaining its existence and disseminating its ideology is a social, moral, and national obligation. By preserving, cultivating, and achieving the academic principles of Mahapran Mahesh Chandra, it is anticipated that the government will take care of the maintenance of this library and the educational institution adjacent to it. This will allow the people of Bengal to access a route that leads to enlightenment.