The Central piece of the hub that Lajpat Rai Bhawan is the Library which was established by Lala Lajpat Rai in memory of his friend Shri Dwarka Das who donated his personal library to the Society in 1921. It also includes the personal library of Lala Lajpat Rai, a collection from where revolutionaries and nationalists drank deep.
Dwarka Dass Library is the repository of rare literature of freedom movement and preserves in its collection the memorabilia of the struggle for the emancipation of the nation and its cultural heritage. This Library was known as ‘Revolutionaries Shrine’ because Bhagat Singh and his colleagues had made this library as their sanctuary. It became a meeting ground for patriots and freedom fighters.
The present library at Chandigarh is housed in Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Sector 15-B Madhya Marg, Chandigarh. It is the post-partition restoration of its original at Lahore After the partition in 1947, the credit of conceiving the idea of shifting the Library at Chandigarh goes to late Lala Achint Ram who was closely connected with the activities of the Society even before the partition of the country. It was moved to Shimla temporarily and then shifted to Chandigarh in 1962. Initially it was housed at Panjab University, Chandigarh and finally in 1966 it was shifted to Lajpat Rai Bhawan, Sector 15-B. It was formally inaugurated on August 28,1966 by the then Union Education Minister of India Mr. M.C. Chagla.
Before independence, Dwarka Das Library became a hub of activities for the revolutionaries and nationalists like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Yashpal, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Dhanwartri and Durga Dass Khanna. It played home to patriots and freedom fighters. During this period the premises of the library were frequently raided and searched by the police and C.I.D. Bhagat Singh who joined National College which was founded and run by Lala Lajpat Rai. He devoted himself whole-heartedly to the study of history, politics and economics. He was an avid reader. He could not live without books. Most of the books of radical nature at Dwarka Das Library were read by him. Servants of the People Society generously helped them by indenting for the Dwarka Das Library all such books as were asked for by these ardent revolutionary students. When Bhagat Singh was in jail his only request to his friends was for a regular supply of book in jail.
Fueling a Revolution
Dwarka Dass Library has motivated several eminent revolutionaries including Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and other students of nationalist’s movement in Punjab who used to congregate under its roof to discuss strategies for freedom struggle. Bhagat Singh made the Library his sanctuary and frequently referred to ‘An Archism and other Essays’. French revolutionary Vellon who narrated an incident when the author threw a bomb in the Assembly and asserted in the Court that an explosion was needed to awoke a deaf society. Bhagat Singh ambulation of the narrative inspired him for the same act.
Research and Reference Centre
The Library is now a hub for scholarly researchers in the field of history, politics and economics. It houses an excellent collection for the political Leaders. At present, the Library has around 85, 252 books in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. At present, there are more than 1000 members with an increase of as many as 60 members every month. The Library grew into a prestigious centre for Research Scholars in history, particularly related to undivided Punjab, political Science, economics, labour movement, journalism besides other social sciences.
Apart from rare and reference books and other archival departments, it has magazines, novels, books for competitive examination, with computers in one section.
Rare Books
The Library has huge collection of rare books including reference books, reports, manuscripts, bound periodicals confidential documents of the action are gazetteers, legislative assembly debates, Issue of the ‘The Tribune since 1922 (open for general public from 1961 onwards) It also has copies of “The People” a newspaper started by Lala Lajpat Rai and “Mari Jan Sewak” edited by Mahatma Gandhi. The first Resolution of the Indian National Congress 1885, is also a part of the Library. Reference books include different types of dictionaries; Encyclopedia Britannica’ 15th edition (1929); a 14-volume set of Imperial Gazetteer of India, published in 1909 in 26 volumes of united Punjab during the British period and books on India war of Independence 1857. In addition, there are books written by Lala Lajpat Rai, books on Lala Lajpat Rai by various authors besides books read by great patriots like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Census reports of Punjab for the years 1691-1931, 1951-and 1961 are also available in the Library’s stock.
Membership
Membership is open to all. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with one hour’s lunch break, from Monday to Saturday for its members. Research scholars from Panjab University, Chandigarh, Kurukshetra University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and Punjabi University, Patiala; college lecturers doing their M.Phil. or PhD and People preparing for IAS and other competitive exams regularly utilize the extensive reading material that the library offers.
Activities
Martyrdom week of Sher-e-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai is organized every year in which exhibition showing memorabilia related to Lala Lajpat Rai that include clothes worn by Lala Lajpat Rai at the time of protest march against the Simon Commission and books. The display of some rare books, Journal and articles is also the part of the exhibition.
Collection of books which includes the oldest dating back to 1702 which is a journal of expeditions. Besides large member books written by Lala Lajpat Rai and those read by him, including copies of letters written to his contemporaries. Signed copy by Lala Lajpat Rai “why India is in revolt against the British Rule” is also part of the exhibition. One can also see copies of the proceedings of the Lahore Conspiracy Case, Young India and the Hari Jan Sewek edited by Mahatma Gandhi.
Besides the above ‘A corner is dedicated to Bhagat Singh which includes rare photographs and books issued to him by the Lahore Library. His books and other memories are also kept in the exhibition. Those newspapers are also being kept in which reference of Lahore Conspiracy case was mentioned.
The Society does not receive any financial help for the maintenance and upkeep of the Library. However, the Library meets its requirement from the Society is renting out of its space to the exhibitors.
Librarian
Alka Kashyap, is working as the librarian at Dwarka Das library since 2008. She has organized the library materials in such a way that the readers can find the required material easily. She helps library patrons conduct research and provide readers advisory services. She is very hardworking and energetic. In the words of Lalaji, “Knowledge, intelligence and ability are needed as much as a high character, loyalty and self-sacrifice.” These words are very suitable to describe her sincerity towards this library.
(Information collected from Internet sources and the library authorities by Dr Preeti Sharda, Librarian of Regional Institute of English, Sector 32-C, Chandigarh just for sharing purpose.)
