Assamese Language Collection

In1963, a separate division was established in the National Library to collect and process Assamese books. At present the division has 12,000 books. This collection has some works published between 1840 and 1900. Some of the important publications are :Asamiya larar mitra by Anandaram Dhekiyal Phukan ( 1849), Larabodh byakaran by Dharmeswar Goswami, (1884), Prakrit bhugol Lambodara Datta (1884) and several volumes of Sri Sankardev's Kirattan , Gunamala, Sriamad Bhagavad, Bargit, Rukmini haran nat, Ankiyanat are also available in the division. Volumes of Arunodoi Patrika (1846-1853, 1856-1858) are also available in the collection.

Arunodoi Patrika

Bengali Language Collection
The library has 85,000 books in its Bengali collection. The collection contains very rare and valuable books as well as periodicals published from the last quarter of the 18th century. Early Bengali dramas and novels are well represented in this collection. The collection has many rare items like the manuscripts of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhaya, Bibuti Bhushan Bandaopadhaya, Jibanananda Das and Visnu De; 154 letters of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose written to his nephew Sri Asok Nath Bose and letters to Sarat Chandra Bose are also available in the collection. The collection has the complete set of Ravindranath Tagore's works, except a few of his early works. This includes 190 first editions of Tagore's works.

Some of the rare and important works in this collection are: A grammar of the Bengal Language (1778) by Nathaniel Brassey, which is the earliest printed book in Bengali, Henry Forstar's 'A vocabulary in two parts', English and Bangalee (1799), William Carrey's Dialogues, intended to facilitate the acquiring of the Bengali language ( 1801), Ram Ram Basu's Raja Pratapaditya Charitra …(1801), Mrityunjay Vidyalankar's Batris Simhansan (1802), Ramayana -- translated by Kirteebas and published in five volumes, Mahabharat translated by Kashee Ram Dass (1802), Chandicharan Munshi's Tota Itihas (1805), Jayanarayan Ghosal's, Sri Karunanidhanavilasa (1814), William Carey's Dictionary of the Bengali Language in which the words are traced to their origin and their various meanings given -- 2 Volumes( 1815-1825). The collection has 400 titles of Bengali periodicals including many rare 19th century periodicals. Digdarshan (1818) first Bengali monthly and the first issue of The Samachar Darpan (1831) -- the first Bengali weekly can be seen in the collection.

The library has published a four volume catalogue of Bengali Books.

A grammar of the Bengal Language (1778) by Nathaniel Brassey

Gujarati Language Collection

The library has 37,000 Gujarati books. The collection has about 1100 rare Gujarati titles published prior to 1900. This collection also has 30 albums of paintings by Kanu Desai published during the period 1936 to 1956. Ancient Jaina Miniature Paintings are very well reproduced in Sri Jaina Chitravali, Sri Jaina Chitra Patavali and other valuable books edited by Sarabhai Nawab. The authentic editions of the poetic works of medieval Gujarati poets like Narsinh Meheta, Mirabai, Premanand and Symal Bhat are well represented in this collection.

Some of the rare titles available in the collection are Robert Drummond's Illustrations of Grammatical Parts Guzerattee, Maratta and English languages (1808), translations of Aesope's Fables by Bapushastri Pandya Raykaval (1818), Edalji Patel's Suratani Tavarikh (1890) and Jnana Chakra --a Gujarati encyclopaedia in 9 Vols. (1867).

Hindi Language Division

Hindi is the National language of India. The Collection building of Hindi books started ever since the time of Imperial library. A separate division was established in 1960. At present 80,000 Hindi books are in the library collection. The collection has rare works published during the last decades of the 18th Century. Many of the publications published by Lulloo Lal, the first printer, publisher and writer of Calcutta, are very well represented in this collection. The following rare books published by Lulloo Lal are in the library: Braja Bhasha Grammar (1811), Lataife Hindi (1821) and Rajaniti (1827). Prem Sagur (1842).

Apart from the above publications, the library has -- The oriental linguist with an Extensive vocabulary English and Hindoostanee and Hindoostanee and English by John B. Gilchrist (1798), Hindi-Roman Orthoepigraphical Ultimatum… by John B. Gilchrist (1804), Rajneeti by Narayana Pandit (1809), Sudamacaritra by Haldhara Dasa(1819), Raga Kalpadruma (1843), Baital Pachisi by Duncan Forbes ( 1861), Dictionary of Hindee and English by J. T. Thompson (1862), Yavan Bhasa Ka Vyakaran by Hooper William (1874), Siva Simha Saroja by Siva Simha Senagar (1878), Hindi Pradipa edited by Balkrishna Bhatt (1877-1909), Brief account of the Solar system in Hindi (1940), and a microfilm copy of 'Bal Bodhini,' (1874 - 1877)-- a monthly Journal for women edited by Bharatendu Harischandra. There are also about 1200 rare first issues of important journals in this collection.

The division also has a good number of Maithili books.

Title page(top) and 1st page(below) of Lulloo Lal's Prem Sagur (1842)

Kannada Language Collection

A separate Kannada division came into existence in 1963 in the National Library, to collect and preserve the books and other published materials in Kannada language. In 1960, the library purchased the personal collection of H. Channakeshava Ayyangar. This collection consists of 1300 books published between the last two decades of the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century. The efforts of G.P. Rajaratnam, a noted Kannada author, in building the Kannada collection in the library is worth mentioning. Immediately after the enactment of the D.B. Act, Rajaratnam toured erstwhile Mysore state to create awareness among the publishers about the Act. He also collected about 1,500 books on behalf of the library and sent them to the library, with out any expense to the library. The Kannada collection in the library is very useful for the study of cultural history of Karnataka.

At present there are 32,000 Kannada books in the library.

Kashmiri Language Collection

Kashmiri division became an independent division in 1983. Now the library has 500 Kashmir books. Some of the important publications available in this collection are : Muhammad Yusuf Teng's Shirin Qalm (2 Volumes), Wiyur edited by Ghulam Muhammad Rafiq, Ghulam Nabi Khyal's Akah Nandun, Nurnama (Sayings of Nuruddin Wali) and compiled by Muhammad Amin Kaim, Fazil and Kashmiri's Krishna Lila.
 

Malayalam Language Collection

Malayalam division, as a separate division, was established in the National Library in 1963. Then the division had 5,000 books. Now the collection has 34,500 books. The earliest printed book available in the collection dates back to 1791, Centum Adagia Malabarica is a Latin translation of Malayalam proverbs. Both the Malayalam originals and Latin translations are printed side by side. Among the many rare and old books, mention may be made of the following works: Robert Drummond's Grammar of the Malabar Language (1799), Dr. Gundart's Malayalam--English dictionary (1872) Vartamanapustakam by Parammachkal Govarnnodoracchan, Appu Nedungadi's Kundalata and Chantu Menan's. Indulekha (1889). Apart from these, many works representing the early periods are also available in this collection. Few of them are: Ramacaritam, (earliest known Malayalam work), works of Niranam (15th Century poet), Cerussery's Krishnagatha (16th century), Vatakkan Pattukal (Ballads of North Malabar), Ezuttachan's Adhyatama Ramayana, Ramaprattu Variyar's Kucelavrtam, Kuncan Nampyar's Tullol.

Marathi Language Collection

Marathi division was established in 1963 with a collection of 8900 volumes, to collect and process Marathi books in the National Library. Now the division has 37,000 books in its collection. In 1954 the National Library purchased the library of the Bengal Nagpur Railway Indian Institure, Kharagpur which had a good number of Marathi books. Sir Jadunath Sarkar Collection also has about 350 Marathi books, on the history of Maratha period. The division has many rare and old Marathi Publications. Few of them are: William Carey's -- A grammar of the Mahratta language (1805) and Dictionary of the Maharatta language (1810), Simhasana battisi (1814), Raghuji Bhinsalyanihi vanshavali (1815), Vans Kennedy's -- A dictionary of Maratta language (1824), Nava Karar (1850), A Short Account of Railways by K. Bhatwadekar (1854), Charles Hutton's Bijaganit (1856), Vishnu Parashuram Pandit and Shankar Pandurang Pandit edited Tukaram's Abhangachi gatha (1869), H. A. Acworth edited Itihasaprisiddha purushanche va striyanche povade (1891).

An illustration from 'A Short Account of Railways'

Oriya Language Collection

A separate Oriya division was established in 1973, in the National Library, to acquire and process Oriya books. Imperial Library had only 133 books, later the collection was increased to 425 books. Now the division has 19500 books.

The oldest publication available in the Oriya collection dates back to 1831. It is Rev. Amos Sutton's Introductory Grammar of Oriya language . Some of the other rarities in the collection are: Jayadeva's Gitagovinda, translated by Dharanidhara, Amos Sutton's An Oriya dictionary -- 3 vols.(1841-1843), Dharmapustakara Adibhaya (1842-1843). Purnacandra Odiabhasa Kosh (1931-1940), a lexicon of Oriya language compiled by Gopalachandra Praharaj.

Opening page of Jayadeva's Gitagovinda

Punjabi Language Collection

A separate division for the acquisition and processing of Punjabi language books, was established in 1974. Most of the works in this collection are of recent origin. But still the collection has few old and rare Punjabi books. Some of them are : William Carey's A Grammar of Punjabee Language (1812), Samuel Starkey's A Dictionary of English Punjabee (1849), Geographical Description of the Panjab (1850), Bhai Santosh Singh's Guru Paratap Suraj Granthavali (1882) and Gurudas Bhai's Vars (1893).

Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit languages Collection

Sanskrit has the rich heritage of literature in all the spheres of knowledge. A separate division is functioning in the National Library to collect and process Sanskrit books. At present the division has over 20,000 Sanskrit books, printed in Devnagari script. Almost all Indian Language divisions possess Sanskrit works printed in their respective language scripts. The Library also has a rich collection of Sanskrit works edited or translated with original scripts, in English and many other foreign language.

The collection is so rich, that it attracts scholars both from India and abroad. Apart from Sanskrit, books in Pail and Prakrit languages are also collected and processed by this division. At present the library has about 500 books in Pali and a similar number of books in Prakrit.

Sindhi Language Collection

Since 1957, Sindhi books are being added in the National Library. At present the Library has 2,100 Sindhi books. Shah Abdul Latif's Shah Jo Rasalo and Shah Jo Sher are the prized works in this collection.

Tamil Language Collection

Tamil division was formed in 1963 in the library. At present the division has 57,000 books. Apart from this, the Library has 1000 Tamil books and 300 Tamil Manuscripts in Vaipuri Pillai collection. The library has many rare and old Tamil works. Earliest printed Tamil books available in the library are: Tamil Bible (1723); John Philip Fabricius's A Malabar and English Dictionary (1779); Tamil translation of John Bunyan's Piligrim's progress (1793); Caldwell's Comparative Grammar of Dravidian languages (1850). The collection also includes standard editions of five great Sangam Classics.

Telugu Language Collection

Telugu division was formed in the National Library in 1963. The collection has good number of old Telugu books published since the earlier decades of the 19th Century. Some of the Telugu language rarities available in this collection are: William Carey's Grammar of Telugu language (1814); C. P. Brown's A vocabulary of Gentoo and English (1818); Vakyavali (1852); Catalogue of Telugu books in the British library, London, (1912) compiled by L. D. Barnett.

Urdu Language Collection

Like Arabic and Persian collection, Urdu language collection was also well developed from the days of Imperial library. Buhar library, Hidayat Husain collection, Zakariya Collection. Imambara collection also have some Urdu books and manuscripts. In 1968 a separate Urdu division was formed in the Library. At present the collection has more than 20,000 books. Some of the oldest books in this collection are: Uklakhi Hindee or Indian Ethics (1803), Mir Muhamad Takis Kulliuat- e- Mir (1811).