A whatsapp message proclaimed that the Connemara Library in the museum premises would be open to all, because of World Book Day 2018. At first I dismissed it as maybe a whatsapp forward. But towards the end of the day i realised it was not a hoax, and something to be acted on urgently.
So on the last day of this amazing offer, a Wednesday, I made the trip down to the Egmore museum, and walked in, looking for the Connemara library. I knew clearly where the library was, but no idea how to access the old wing. At first, I just walked around the museum campus, and circled the main buildings once, looking for alternate entrances. Finally, I entered the Anthropology gallery, and asked those who were checking tickets where the old library building was. They said, oh, its the second floor of the library, and I was confused, but I thanked them, and went to the Connemara library. The library is a depository for the country, which means every book, newspaper and magazine published in the country has to send a copy here. I entered, and went to the first floor. I didnt see any obvious signs for the old wing, and was just about to go to the next floor, when a man stopped me, and said "You're looking for the old wing? " I said yes, and he told me to enter, and to go all the way to the end of the room. I did that, and found a door there, leading onto a passageway. This passage led to a flight of stairs, which when ascended, led to a completely different corridor. The old section.
Built in November of 1896, earlier a part of the ancient manuscripts wing of the Madras Literary Society, and later an independent entity, the Connemara is built in red sandstone, in the Indo-saracenic style of construction, with tall pillars, arches, and keystones carved with various figures. The lintels are also a source of interest. The stained glass here is original and exquisite, and supposed to have been imported from Belgium!
The entrance takes you to a semicircular room, where chairs are set up all around. The door in the centre takes you into a long passageway with old wooden signs on top, indicating what the sections on either side are. Sensus 1981, Sensus 1971,The Sensus of 1961 takes up 3 whole wings!
Finally an open area with tables, and for this time alone, a display of the oldest books in the library under a glass case. The first Tamil publication, the first printed Bible all sit cosily for visitor's satisfaction. According to the Hindu article that appeared this Monday ( 22nd April), there are over 8 lakh books in the library, 2 lakh of them from pre-independance.
The oldest book in the library on display dates back to the 1600s, and is the Geneva Bible, reprinted by Robert Barker in 1608.Originally printed around 1580 in Geneva.
There are doors leading off on either side, but we'll come to them later. In the middle of the room is a statue of Gandhi.
To one side is a set of stairs. Curved stairs with old bannisters, made of wood. Climbing that takes you to the display area. When you enter the mezanine level, there is a long wall on one side filled with the Madras Legislature, later Tamil Nadu legislatures discussions. These date back to the 20's. From here, you can go in two directions. Next to the steps is a small passageway taking you to one side. Or if you go by the wall of books, you come to the display section. The other area was closed off as it was dangerous to walk there.
The centre opens out onto the ground floor. apparently this mezanine is a new addition,
The display section had books laid out on tables, with people flipping them open, and allowed to go through them. Only about 200 books were said to be on display, but i saw even fewer. To either side of the library is an emblem, the Indian emblem. The British emblem reportedly sat there until it was removed to fit this.
Some of the interesting books that I saw, that caught my eye were: Miniatures from the Mughal times, by a British author, the travels of a Dutchman to various places around the world, and the maps included in that book, from 1662, studies of various fish species from the 19th century, a biogrpahy of King George V, a book of illustrations on the Mahabharatha, and a book of Mughal miniatures, both compiled by British men. There is also a copy of the Constitution here.
Remember the doors? We're coming to them now. These lead to further collections, one of them being Rai Bahadur Arcot Dhanakoti 's donation, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.
He was a Zamindar, who was a bg philanthropist in Madras, and a lover of literature. I was not able to gather more than this on him.
So on the last day of this amazing offer, a Wednesday, I made the trip down to the Egmore museum, and walked in, looking for the Connemara library. I knew clearly where the library was, but no idea how to access the old wing. At first, I just walked around the museum campus, and circled the main buildings once, looking for alternate entrances. Finally, I entered the Anthropology gallery, and asked those who were checking tickets where the old library building was. They said, oh, its the second floor of the library, and I was confused, but I thanked them, and went to the Connemara library. The library is a depository for the country, which means every book, newspaper and magazine published in the country has to send a copy here. I entered, and went to the first floor. I didnt see any obvious signs for the old wing, and was just about to go to the next floor, when a man stopped me, and said "You're looking for the old wing? " I said yes, and he told me to enter, and to go all the way to the end of the room. I did that, and found a door there, leading onto a passageway. This passage led to a flight of stairs, which when ascended, led to a completely different corridor. The old section.
Built in November of 1896, earlier a part of the ancient manuscripts wing of the Madras Literary Society, and later an independent entity, the Connemara is built in red sandstone, in the Indo-saracenic style of construction, with tall pillars, arches, and keystones carved with various figures. The lintels are also a source of interest. The stained glass here is original and exquisite, and supposed to have been imported from Belgium!
The entrance takes you to a semicircular room, where chairs are set up all around. The door in the centre takes you into a long passageway with old wooden signs on top, indicating what the sections on either side are. Sensus 1981, Sensus 1971,The Sensus of 1961 takes up 3 whole wings!
Finally an open area with tables, and for this time alone, a display of the oldest books in the library under a glass case. The first Tamil publication, the first printed Bible all sit cosily for visitor's satisfaction. According to the Hindu article that appeared this Monday ( 22nd April), there are over 8 lakh books in the library, 2 lakh of them from pre-independance.
The oldest book in the library on display dates back to the 1600s, and is the Geneva Bible, reprinted by Robert Barker in 1608.Originally printed around 1580 in Geneva.
There are doors leading off on either side, but we'll come to them later. In the middle of the room is a statue of Gandhi.
To one side is a set of stairs. Curved stairs with old bannisters, made of wood. Climbing that takes you to the display area. When you enter the mezanine level, there is a long wall on one side filled with the Madras Legislature, later Tamil Nadu legislatures discussions. These date back to the 20's. From here, you can go in two directions. Next to the steps is a small passageway taking you to one side. Or if you go by the wall of books, you come to the display section. The other area was closed off as it was dangerous to walk there.
The centre opens out onto the ground floor. apparently this mezanine is a new addition,
The display section had books laid out on tables, with people flipping them open, and allowed to go through them. Only about 200 books were said to be on display, but i saw even fewer. To either side of the library is an emblem, the Indian emblem. The British emblem reportedly sat there until it was removed to fit this.
Some of the interesting books that I saw, that caught my eye were: Miniatures from the Mughal times, by a British author, the travels of a Dutchman to various places around the world, and the maps included in that book, from 1662, studies of various fish species from the 19th century, a biogrpahy of King George V, a book of illustrations on the Mahabharatha, and a book of Mughal miniatures, both compiled by British men. There is also a copy of the Constitution here.
Remember the doors? We're coming to them now. These lead to further collections, one of them being Rai Bahadur Arcot Dhanakoti 's donation, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887.
He was a Zamindar, who was a bg philanthropist in Madras, and a lover of literature. I was not able to gather more than this on him.
The ceiling
The entrance passage
The marble floor
The other side, which we were not allowed to enter for safety reasons
A statue of Gandhi
Stained glass. Below you can see the museum premises
The passage connecting the new with the old
The wall of legislative books
The ground floor
People looking at the various books
The stained glass creates an awesome effect
The Constitution of India: The Preamble. Each page has been calligraphed by hand!
With a heart filled with new knowledge, I sorrowfully left the library when they threw us all out at 5.
Wonderful peak into a marvellous world.
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DeleteThanks :)
DeleteNandan I went there last year.Just like you in a zig zag way reached the wonder of wonders, being disappointed seeing the new library.But your description is so intriguingly lucid.Also the pictures.Great.As ever extremely happy for you
ReplyDeleteCan I share your blog?