The Saraswati Mandir Vachanalaya will turn 100 years old soon and is gearing up for a makeover, with members excited over the renovations on this 'house of knowlege'
Books are humanity in print and a library is the place whichtakes us on a travel through history. The oldest book house in the capital cityof Goa, Shri Saraswati Mandir is one such place where history is safelypreserved in a literary capsule. With 46,000 books, some of which are more than100 years old, the library is all set for its centenary celebrations in 2013.
“We have literary creations published as far back as 1815.In order to preserve our rare stock of books, we have separated the bookspublished prior to 1961 from newer editions. Binding these safely, we havestopped issuing these priceless books to readers,” shares Nisha Takkar, the librarian.
This library was established on the auspicious day ofDussehra, on October 9 in 1913, with generous support from philanthropists likeVishnu Giridhar Shenvi Dhempe, Dr Purushottam V Shirgaonkar, ShambaraoSardessai, Shiva Fatu Pai Angle and a few other enthusiastic youth, who joinedhands to begin the Goa Hindu Pustakalaya. It was due to the efforts of thefounders – late Narayan Shenvi Kenkre Agashikar, Anant Vasudev Prabhu Moye,Pandurang Kamat Mhamai and Pundalik Anant Keni that the library managed to takeshape in the initial years.
Inaugurated on the terrace of Anant Nagoji Naik, thisreading room was shifted to the terrace of Shri Nevrekar in 1923. The foundersbought 400 metres land in Panjim in 1920. Funds were collected, and thefoundation stone was laid on April 29 in 1950, but the building could not beerected. Then on April 4 in 1969, the construction work was initiated and thelibrary finally had its own building in 1970.
“We are planning to renovate our present reading rooms,upgrade our stock of books and give our library a state-of-the-art look,”announces Madhav Dhond, president of the Saraswati Mandir executive committee.
The committee has applied for special grant of Rs 50 lakhfrom the government of Goa, as the institute is turning 100 next year. “We getan annual grant from the government which is used to buy books. This year wehave received a one time grant from the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Foundation forupgrading our children’s section,” says treasurer Maya Joshi.
The committee members Dayanand Kamat, Avadhoot Angle, AnilAngle and Mahesh Naik all are excited. “We will come out with the publicationthat will serve as a souvenir on this occasion, and are open to suggestions forthe same from book lovers,” says Ratnakar Talaulikar, the secretary of theexecutive committee. The library attendant, Vivekanand Tari has not seen anyfall in the number of readers in his 30 years of service.
