Two century-old libraries in Kolkata's Kidderpore recognised for legacy of cultural heritage

KOLKATA: The authorities of two more than 100-year-old libraries at Kidderpore — Michael Madhusudan Library and Hemchandra Pathagar — were felicitated with a certificate of honour, a memento and Rs 5,000 by Purono Kolkatar Golpo Society (PKGS) on Sunday for carrying forward the legacy of cultural heritage before World Heritage Day (April 18).
Hemchandra Pathagar was established in 1907 and named after the poet Hemchandra Bandyopadhyay in 1909.It was first started by the members of Kidderpore Anushilan Samity and also used for revolutionary activities. Many famous writers like Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay, Achintya Kumar Sengupta and Prabhabati Debi had visited the library. “Actor, director and playwright Shishir Bhaduri had raised some money by staging his plays and helped in the construction of the building. The library still has a table used by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,” said Pradip Kumar Ghosh, secretary of Hemchandra Pathagar, which has nearly 25,000 books and periodicals. Michael Madhusudan Library, which was established in 1915 in memory of the poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt, has nearly 30,000 books and periodicals. “With the change in population demography, the popularity of the library has declined but still some old timers and research scholars come here regularly. There are many rare books and periodicals,” said Kashinath Pal, treasurer of Madhusudan Library. One of the unique events of the library is the ‘Madhumilan Utsav’ on January 25, the birth anniversary of Michael Madhusudan Dutt. “Sir Asutosh Mookerjee was the first president of Madhumilan Utsav,” he added.
Swarnali Chattopadhyaay, a PKGS administrator, said, “When libraries are disappearing from the city, it is necessary to recognise the unique contributions that these century-old libraries have made in our cultural life.” More than 30 people visited the two libraries on Sunday and explored the rich history of the Kidderpore area. “We visited Rangalal Bandyopadhyay’s house, poet Hem Chandra’s house, St. Barnabus Church and School, Solo Ana Masjid and Bhu Kailash Mandir to showcase the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood,” said Jayanta Sen, another PKGS administrator.