Century-old Rammala Library falls into disrepair

The century-old Rammala Library in Cumilla, home to thousands of ancient manuscripts and rare books, is languishing in neglect as its invaluable collection gradually decays for lack of proper preservation

One of the oldest libraries in Bangladesh, it was established in 1912 at Maheshangan on the outskirts of Cumilla city, opposite the present Comilla Education Board office.

The library houses around 12,000 printed books on literature, culture, history, geography, philosophy, religion and other branches of knowledge, along with over 8,000 hand-written ancient manuscripts, known as punthi in Bangla, mostly on literature from the Medieval Period and the early modern period, roughly 1700-1900 AD.

Researchers from across the country have once used this library for their work.

However, the library is now in a deplorable state, and in much need of urgent steps to preserve its collection.

“The Rammala Library and Maheshangan were once referred to as the Santiniketan of the East Bengal. This library has a vast collection of rare and invaluable books and manuscripts that need to be preserved at any cost,” said Ahsanul Kabir, a local cultural figure.

“The library’s gradual decline began after the demise of eminent scholar Dr Rashmohan Chatterjee in 1982. It has remained closed since the death of its in-charge Indukumar Singh in 2022. As a result, the rare collection is collecting dust and gradually decaying,” he added.

Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya (1858-1944), a noted scholar and philanthropist, founded the library in 1912 and named after his mother Rammala Devi. He also founded the Ishwar Pathsala in 1914 in memory of his father Ishwar Chandra Tarka Siddhanta, also a scholar, and established the Rammala Hostel in 1916 for male students and the Nibedita Girls Hostel in 1919 for female students.

Mahesh Bhattacharya died on February 10, 1944, in Varanasi, then British India, aged 86. Prior to his demise, the childless philanthropist had formed the Mahesh Charitable Trust to run his various institutions.

After the library was founded, Dr Rashmohan Chatterjee and Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya worked together to expand it further. With funding from Mahesh and the sincerity of Rashmohan, the library became a home for researchers of ancient manuscripts, many of those donated by local families.

In 1926, the students of Rammala Hostel accorded a reception to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose also visited this place among other eminent figures of the subcontinent.

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At present, the library’s Manuscript Section preserves more than 8,000 ancient handwritten scriptures and cultural texts related to Sanatan faith and philosophy, covering topics such as the Vedas, Kabya, Byakaran, Astrology, History, Purana, Religion, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Satyanarayan Panchali, Satya Pirer Punthi, Shanir Panchali and so on. These manuscripts -- written in Sanskrit and Bangla on palmyra palm leaves, bhojpatra (bark of Himalayan birch trees), and Tulot (cotton) paper -- have been collected from across the region, including Tripura, Cumilla, Noakhali and Sylhet.

Visiting the library recently, this correspondent found the manuscripts in a dusty, derelict condition, must at risk of getting lost forever.

Advocate Sarojendu Roy Kanu, chairperson of the trust, said he heard that about 2,500 of these manuscripts have been preserved at Dhaka University through microfilms. However, it remains unknown where and how those are being kept, or whether any work is actually being carried out on them at all.

Komol Chakraborty, caretaker of the Rammala Hostel, said anyone may enter the library between 10:00am and 5:00pm except on Fridays and government holidays.

Sarojendu Roy said, “We are trying to appoint a librarian to look after the library. The trust could not financially afford any further renovation or development of the library. If the government takes initiatives to preserve and develop the invaluable assets of the library and to build a museum, we will welcome it.”

“However, it must be done here in Cumilla and not by relocating elsewhere, as this library is a part of Cumilla’s heritage,” he added.

On November 4 last year, different high officials including then adviser to the interim government Mahfuj Alam visited Rammala Library and gave assurance to assist its renovation, digitisation and development. However, no initiative has been taken to this end yet.

Sources at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs said no project has been initiated regarding Rammala Library yet.

“However, if the government wants, it can take meaningful initiatives regarding this library in the future,” said an official of the ministry, wishing anonymity.