His mannerism was unshaken by the tragedy. Secretary Rasheed Anjum greeted journalists, who reached the spot. A library on top of an 18th century drain! None but a very few realise the importance of the collections in the library. The ducts of two large chambers that flooded the library were open. Dim light, dirty water all across and stench in the air greeted anyone who came in.
The enormity of what befell the library hit home late in night. Students gather there for reading daily newspapers or magazines. For many, this library evokes memory of a silent place, a large reading room and an oddly-placed desktop computer. For most, it does not matter much as to what is there after a flight of stairs.
The number of loudspeakers can be more than those gathered around. The Maidan above is used to host many events all through the year. Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) emergency call centre termed it as little ‘waterlogging’ near Iqbal Maidan. On Saturday night, the first information about the tragedy went almost unnoticed. Based below Iqbal Maidan, it comes across as an extended mezzanine floor from the outside. But most have no idea about what is there in this privately-maintained library. It has over 70,000 books, magazine, manuscripts and other priceless collections. The library, faces ‘ Shaheen’, a structure curated by Robin David and J Swaminathan in the aftermath of Bhopal gas disaster of 1984 in the memory of Allama Iqbal, On the pamphlet to mark the its dedication to the public, the curators quoted the line ‘what good is it tho’ if you cannot see the essence of things’. A spell of shower and the resultant backflow of choked water changed all that by breaching a chamber and causing an irretrievable damage to old and sepia-paged books veritable trove. Even kindle, e-books failed to eclipse its popularity or pride of place. In its 77 years of existence, this bellwether of city’s journey and change from the city of Nawabs to state capital remained untouched by changes. Nothing could dent or damage a treasure of books wherever - Iqbal Library - was shifted with its rare and priceless collection.
BHOPAL: Come rain or shine, it stood firm for years.
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