Nagpur: The iconic 97-year-old Muslim Library building in Mominpura in Nagpur was demolished over the last two days. On Wednesday evening, the over 13,000 sq ft land played host to Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari, who performed the groundbreaking ceremony for an ultra-modern e-library at the site.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had sealed the Muslim Library in 2022 after declining to renew its lease after 93 years. The historic building had been erected in 1927, while the library began operating in a temporary room nearby two years before that.
Today’s Rate
Wednesday 10 Oct. 2024
NMC has proposed a Rs 20 crore project to construct a state-of-the-art e-library for students. The State Government approved the funds on February 22, and NMC has floated a tender to execute the project, awarding it to architect Ashok Mokha.
NMC had also proposed naming the e-library the APJ Abdul Kalam Student Library Mominpura, a move that has not been well-received by local residents. Trust members said that no decision on the name has been made yet.
After the sealing, the Muslim Library premises fell into disrepair. Although under NMC possession since September 2022, the land had turned into a mosquito breeding ground, an illegal parking lot, and a hub for anti-social activities. All that vanished over two day, with over 1,000 chairs, a red carpet and a plush stage set up for dignitaries to make a fresh start on Wednesday.
However, after the demolition this week, the whereabouts of over 2,000 Urdu books was unknown. Trust members said most were already damaged or eaten by termites.
MLC Pravin Datke facilitated the sanctioning of funds through Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “The contractor has been asked to maintain the library for five years. I would like the new trust to run the library as it has capable members,” he said.
Dr Sarfaraz Ahmed, Secretary of the trust, expressed gratitude to Fadnavis and Datke for their efforts in securing Rs20 crore for the project. “Students of Mominpura must benefit from the new library. The civil works must be completed in a timely manner, and it must be useful for local residents. The trust will support the further management of the library,” he said.
