Plea to classify Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur as model library
Madras high court
on Thursday ordered notice to the Centre and the state on a plea seeking a direction to classify the Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur as a model library under the National Mission on Libraries.
A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete was hearing a public interest litigation filed by B Prabhakaran of Chennai.
The petitioner stated that the 500-year-old library holds immense historical, socio-cultural, and academic significance. The library, also known as Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library, is one of the oldest surviving libraries in Asia, established in the 16th century during the reign of the Nayak kings of Thanjavur.
The library was enriched by Maratha rulers, notably King Serfoji II, an eminent scholar and polyglot.
He stated that the library, a historic repository of ancient knowledge, is currently suffering from severe administrative neglect, acute staff shortage, unimplemented digitisation programmes, and lack of preservation efforts by the govt, leading to the loss of valuable books and journals. No effective measures have been taken to ensure the preservation or proper management of the library's invaluable records.
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The continued neglect and failure to implement restoration and preservation measures amount to a grave dereliction of public duty and a violation of the collective cultural rights of the people enshrined under Article 29 of the Constitution. The Union ministry of culture exercises administrative supervision over several premier libraries. Saraswathi Mahal Library falls well within the purview of the National Mission on Libraries, which is established under the ministry.
Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking a direction to classify the library as a model library and to take appropriate steps towards digitisation, conservation, and implement development schemes administered by the ministry by sanctioning requisite grants-in-aid to undertake restoration measures and infrastructural upgrades.
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