A round-up of the libraries of Mumbai
I read with interest a recent news item about the British
Council Library, Mumbai, offering an attractive incentive of a
stay at a Matheran resort for new members or those renewing their
subscriptions. I thought to myself, was this the same library
which, 30 years ago, made me wait two years before honouring me
with a membership? Those were college days for me and at Rs 20
per year the wealth of reading that the library offered made a
membership to it something to be coveted.
For many years after I got the membership, the BC, as it is still
affectionately known, was the prime source for my reading. In
those days, the library was above the Bhulabhai Desai Auditorium
(now defunct), behind the LIC building near Sachivalaya. I would
devote one Saturday (Saturdays were holidays for me) a month to
browsing the library's collection and taking away the month's
quota of four books.
Then the library shifted to Nariman Point, a place which I not
only disliked but also found inconvenient. This coincided with my
joining the Asiatic Society of Bombay which I found not only
convenient but more catholic as well. (More on this library later.)
So I never renewed my BC membership.
Another popular consulate library at the time was that of the
United States Information Services (USIS), near Churchgate
station. Those were pre-terrorist times and one could enter the
library precincts right from the street. If the BC kept only
British and Commonwealth books, the USIS stocked everything
exclusively US. It was my first real introduction to US
literature and I happily lapped up the likes of Upton Sinclair,
John Updike, Ernest Hemingway and John Fitzgerald. Besides, there
was a lot of information about the US. I particularly remember
the exultant atmosphere in the library when the Americans stepped
on the Moon in 1969. Huge posters and banners festooned the place
and everyone was reading up on the American space programme.
Some years later, after bomb threats, security was considerably
beefed up at the USIS library, until finally it closed down for
renovation. Now, instead of the friendly open-door welcome off
the street, one is faced by a formidable, high wall with a small
admit-one-only entrance and a similar exit. In earlier times,
membership of the USIS library was free (with the Americans at
that time providing free food grains under their PL480 scheme,
they couldn't charge us poor Indians for knowledge, could they?)
but now there is an annual charge of Rs 200. There is not as wide
a variety of books today, but there is an excellent reference
section with easy-to-access information stored on CD-ROMS.
There were two other consulate libraries that one had access to.
One was the Alliance Francais, which essentially stocked books in
French. Not being too familiar with that language, one visited
the Alliance for sampling the excellent clutch of French films
that were screened every week. The Soviets too had their cultural
centre at Pedder Road with a library attached. However, the
inconvenience of the place and the fact that Soviet publications
were available at vada-pav rates at the People's Publishing House,
Fort, made one all but ignore that library.
The library to which I have been religiously renewing my
subscriptions for the last 25 years, however, is that of the
Asiatic Society of Bombay. Housed in the ancient precincts of the
Town Hall, the dusty tomes, the old furniture and even some of
the staff have remained unchanged over a quarter of a century.
The only innovation in the last few years has been the inevitable
computerisation of the library catalogue. Though membership is
open, the Society is extremely choosy about inducting members.
The total membership (all categories) of 2,592 (as on 31 March)
speaks poorly of an institution of this pedigree. There is a
special scrutiny committee constituted for selecting members and
many an applicant goes back disappointed. The best feature of the
library is the vast variety of books that it houses which
transcend anything that the consular libraries offer.
Another remarkable library known for its catholicity in book
collection is that of the University of Bombay. I used it
extensively during my student days when I managed to procure
almost any book that I needed for reference or study. When
entering its precincts, I always thought I was entering some sort
of cathedral, with stained-glass windows, arches et al.
Unfortunately, you've got to be a student to have regular access
to its facilities, or obtain a guest card for every visit here.
In the way of specialist libraries, none can beat the collection
housed by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The wide
range of books on natural history go back to rare publications of
the 19th century, when shikari was still a sport and not a crime
as it is today.
Two more well-known libraries of Mumbai are the Petit Library on
Dr Dadabhoy Naoroji Rd, and the David Sassoon Library at Mahatma
Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda. I've never approached these institutions
for membership, but when I was studying at the Elphinstone
College, I would glimpse the lawns of the latter library to see
elderly gents having a snooze in the easy chairs in the garden.
The Petit Library, for a small fee, throws its doors open to
students who want a place to study. Yes, they can even get their
books in.
So many books, so few takers. One does hope that the incentive of
a holiday in the hills will get back readers to at least one
library of repute.
Contact: Manuel Fernandes
Updated 24/September/2000