New Delhi: In 1951, when fewer than one in five Indians could read and write, a library opened opposite Old Delhi Railway Station with an ambition that went well beyond lending books.
Inaugurated by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on Oct 27, Delhi Public Library (DPL) was no ordinary reading room. Now celebrating 75 years, the library is preparing for a different kind of literacy challenge. Having grown from a modest collection of around 8,000 books, according to some historical accounts, into a network holding nearly 16 lakh volumes, it is now looking to take reading beyond its buildings — into schools, neighbourhoods and even mobile theatres. As part of its celebrations, DPL has unveiled a year-long programme that seeks to marry its old-world identity with digital innovation, cultural outreach and community participation, under its vision, DPL 2051. Some records also indicate that in its first year alone, the library lent 38,757 books and registered 6,072 users, reflecting an early appetite for reading. Its mobile library service began as early as 1953, taking books to rural areas and newly developing colonies in Delhi, according to historical records. At present, it has 32 centres across the city.
It subsequently introduced specialised Braille services for visually impaired readers and a library service for inmates of Tihar Jail.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union minister of culture and tourism, said public libraries are vital to preserving India’s intellectual heritage and making it accessible to future generations. Conceived as a UNESCO-supported pilot project, it was meant to demonstrate how a free public library could serve an entire city and become a model for similar institutions across India and southeast Asia. India was the first country to respond to UNESCO’s proposal for such a pilot project in Asia. The library’s history contains some lesser-known chapters. Its collection now extends beyond printed books to gramophone records, audio recordings and films. He highlighted the need to combine cultural preservation with technological advancement, noting that digitisation and modern library services can expand access to India’s rich literary, historical and cultural resources. Delhi art, culture and languages minister Kapil Mishra, who was present at the celebration Wednesday, “Books and libraries remain vital in the digital age, offering reliable knowledge amid a flood of online content. Libraries are also evolving, embracing e-books, audiobooks, cloud services and AI.”
Delhi Library Board chairman Sumeet Bhasin said a proposed Gyan Bodh programme aims to reach at least 1,050 schools and nearly 1.1 lakh students through quizzes and activities on Indian culture and knowledge traditions. The library’s plans suggest that its next chapter may be written as much outside its reading rooms as inside them. Read Delhi, Lead India envisages reading clubs, author interactions and membership drives linking schools, libraries and communities.