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At present, a very big and very important news is coming out from the corridors of the capital Delhi, which is related to the history, culture and academic heritage of the country. Amidst the ongoing preparations to shift the country’s second oldest and about 135 years old historical Central Secretariat Library (CSL) from its current location to another place, the Supreme Court itself has taken a serious stand in this matter and taken suo motu cognizance. Between the Central Vista redevelopment project and the demolition of Shastri Bhawan, there was an atmosphere of uncertainty about the future of this prestigious library, its rare collection and the preservation of more than eight and a half lakh books contained in it. After this move of the court, there has been a stir in the administrative and political circles, because this library is not just a collection of books but is a living document of the administrative and historical development of India, whose existence is the moral responsibility of every citizen and government to safeguard.
What is the glorious history of 135 year old Central Secretariat Library and its importance?
The roots of this historic library go deep into the British era, to the year 1891, when it was established in Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta). After this, when the capital of British India was shifted from Kolkata to Delhi in the year 1911, this library was also brought to Delhi. Its location kept changing over time and it found its place after the construction of North Block in the 1930s, and finally in 1969, it was established in Shastri Bhawan, where it has been continuously serving researchers, academicians and administrative officials for the last several decades. This library today has a huge collection of more than 8.5 lakh books, rare manuscripts, ancient government documents, gazetteers and important reports. For researchers of history, politics, economics and sociology, this place is no less than a temple, where scholars from India and abroad come to gather important information.
Why is there an uproar over the demolition and relocation of Shastri Bhawan under the Central Vista Project?
At present, the demolition of many old government offices and buildings is going on at a rapid pace under the huge Central Vista redevelopment project going on in New Delhi. In this context, after the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs gave instructions to vacate and demolish Shastri Bhawan, clouds of crisis started looming over the future of this library. Media reports and various evidences revealed that there is a lack of clarity regarding allocation of adequate and suitable space for this huge library under the new plans. However, this clarification has also come from the government side that under the Duty Path Redevelopment Scheme, a new space has been provisioned for this library and work on the process of its construction is going on. Despite this, there have been concerns among the Ministry of Culture and other concerned parties that the normal space may prove inadequate to safely store such a large quantity of old, rare and sensitive books and it is technically too complex to relocate completely.
Supreme Court’s suo motu cognizance: Now the country’s highest court will decide the fate of historical books
Realizing the seriousness of the matter, the Supreme Court has itself taken cognizance of this entire incident and listed it as a public interest or suo motu case. The bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Sanjeev Sahdev is going to hear this case. The court wants to ensure that this invaluable intellectual and historical heritage of the country is not treated in any way. The court will also examine whether the new space proposed by the government is fully equipped and safe to meet the needs of these eight and a half lakh books, rare manuscripts and the readers who visit there. After this judicial intervention, it is now hoped that the process of transfer of the library will be done with complete transparency and scientific methods, so that each and every one of its old copies and historical documents remains safe.
Future challenges and expectations of academia
This entire process has once again underlined that the ancient and cultural heritage of the country should not be crushed under the wheels of modernization and development. Today, when even in the digital age, physical and historical books have their own unique and irreplaceable importance, the preservation of institutions like the Central Secretariat Library becomes even more relevant. The eyes of historians, writers, lawyers and academicians across the country are now fixed on this important hearing of the Supreme Court. People have full hope that under the guidance of the court, a concrete solution will be found which will bring out the modern look of Central Vista and this 135 year old historical heritage will also remain safe for the coming generations with full glory.