Established at Patna with the entire personal collection of Khuda Bakhsh (1842-1908) donated on January 14, 1891. The "Oriental Public Library" was opened to the public.
In December 1969, an Act of Parliament declared the Library as an Institution of National Importance; and from July 1970 Library is being governed as an autonomous institution by a Board constituted by the Government of India.
The Library has one of the richest collections of Persian and Arabic manuscripts and of rare printed books and invaluable paintings of Mughal, Rajput, Turkish and Iranian Schools ... The Khuda Bakhsh Library has become academic centre with workshops, symposia, talks, lectures and International Seminars ...
Manuscripts:
During the year the Library acquired, by purchase/ gift, 103 manuscripts ..
Printed Material:
During the year 5,908 printed books and periodicals were acquired by purchase. ... 762 printed books as gift and in exchange ... The Library subscribed to 87 research/reference periodicals, the number whereof has besides, 358 periodicals received as gift and 130 in exchange.
Audio & Video Collections:
During the year 71 audio and 55 video cassettes are added to its audio-visual collection relating to living personalities ...
Use of Library Material:
... During the year 62,250 persons from India and abroad visited the Library. Of these 17,050 scholars consulted material for research purpose. A total number of 5,363 printed books and 1,694 research journals were consulted ...
Distinguished visitors who visited the Library ... Mr. Kalimuddin Shams, Minister of West Bengal, Mr. Ali Raza Shaikh Attar, Ambassador of Iran, Prof. Javed Khan, Ex-Minister of Maharashtra, Mr T.N. Chaturvedi, M.P., Mr. P.K. Jaswant Singh, M.P., Mrs. Rita Verma M.P., Mr. P.K. Jayaswal, Director, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Mr. Moosa Raza, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Mrs. Najma Heptullah, Mr. Motilal Vohra, Governor, Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Sukhram, Minister of Communication, Mr. Mir Kasymov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan in India, Mr. Dharma Vira, Ex-Governor, West Bengal
Lending Section:
During the year 1,385 members of the Lending Section of the Library borrowed 5,604 printed books. Reference Section: During the year Microfilm copies of 49 manuscripts and xerox copies of 147 printed books were supplied to scholars and institutions.
1052 academic queries regarding authors, books and manuscripts were replied by post ... besides verbal guidance given to over 4,270 researchers.
Preservation:
During the year 177 manuscripts and 1047 printed books were repaired and bound. 90 manuscripts containing 7216 folios were repaired and bound and 15,681 printed books and manuscripts were fumigated and given scientific treatments and 3984 folios of manuscripts and rare printed books were treated for deacidification.
During the year 13 volumes of the Catalogues were published with necessary corrections and additions.
During the year listing of Urdu manuscripts has been started and, a Union list of Urdu manuscripts preserved in the entire sub-continent is being compiled, besides similar lists in the disciplines of History and Exegesis.
Khuda Bakhsh South Asian Regional Seminars:
During the year on the occasion of the Finale of the Centenary Celebrations of the Library, an International Seminar on Indic Religions (Religions emanating from India i.e. Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism) as perceived by Arabic & Persian scholars through the ages was held on 24-26 December, 1994 at New Delhi.
The Seminar was inaugurated by the President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (who) released a book entitled "Hinduism in Urdu: A Comprehensive Bibliography" by Dr. Ata Khurshid (Aligarh) published by the Khuda Bakhsh Library ... and opened the Exhibition of Books on Indic religions organised by Khuda Bakhsh Library in collaboration with Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu, Jamia Hamdard, Jamia Millia Islamia (all of Delhi) Urdu Research Centre (Hyderabad) and Rahmatullah Khan Sherwani Library (Aligarh).
The Seminar was spread over 8 sessions ... 46 papers were read followed by discussion in which about 90 scholars took part.
Extension Service:
Khuda Bakhsh Lectures: ... During the year under report the following scholars delivered Khuda Bakhsh Extension Lectures: Ms. Diloram Karamatova, Uzbek Scholar, Dr. Shabahat Husain, Aligarh, Dr. (Mrs.) Najma Heptullah. Dr. Bakhtiyar Abidov, Tashkent, Dr. Rafi Ahmad Alvi, Aligarh and Mr. Abdur Rahman Kondoo, Srinagar ...
Centenary Research & Publications:
During the year the Journal continued regularly bringing the total number to 95, covering about 3,298 pages for the year.
Critical editions:
The Library has been bringing out critical editions of the rare material preserved in the Institution ... The Library also brought out several volumes in the series 'Urdu Literature, as reclaimed from the old periodicals' ...
During the year under the report 26 publications have been brought out ... During the year under report the second volume of the Khuda Bakhsh Lecture in Urdu entitled "Tahzeeb, Zaban & Adabiyat" has been published.
Interlingual Translations of Significant Works:
During the year 2 translation items have been completed
Khuda Bakhsh Fellowship:
In order to accelerate the pace of research, the Library has created Khuda Bakhsh Fellowships, at par with those of ICHR/UGC Under the scheme of Khuda Bakhsh Visiting fellowships, so far 12 scholars have been benefitted ..
For the award of degrees of Ph.D./D.Litt, research work done by Khuda Bakhsh Fellows have been recognised ... by Kashmir, Gulbarga, Jamia Millia Islamia, Shantiniketan, Bihar and Magadh Universities.
The Khuda Bakhsh Library awards short-term fellowship to the teachers/research students of the Universities to visit the Library and work under the scheme ...
Khuda Bakhsh Award:
The Library has instituted a prestigious Annual Award, known as Khuda Bakhsh Award. The Award is given to an outstanding scholar for original and creative work on the specialisation of the Library. The Award carries an amount of Rs. One lakh besides a citation ...
... Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the President of India conferred the first Award on Mr. B.N. Pande on 10th August, 1993 ...
Strength of Staff:
The Library has a sanctioned strength of 59 including the Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director and the Administrative Officer.
Finance (1994-95):
Total Receipts
GOI and GO Bihar Grants Rs.938424.40
Total Payments Rs.882300.40
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Government Statement on Haj Pilgrimage A total of 290 officials (97 administrative staff, 94 doctors and 99 paramedical staff) were sent to Saudi Arabia for Haj, 1997 with the period of their deputation varying between four to eight weeks). (Source: LSUQ on 19.11.1997 by R.P. Rudy) |
