Jalandhar's Guru Nanak Dev Library in critical condition, needs urgent care

Ajay Joshi

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 25

The Guru Nanak Dev Library is suffering from the government’s apathy since decades and lies in a state of utter neglect. Built in 1957, the library houses around one lakh books including the writings of many famous authors from the 18th and 19th centuries. Unfortunately, it hasn’t received the kind of treatment it deserves. And a reinventing one is the need of the hour to breathe life into the study.

Racks containing books are covered with layers of dust and seem betwixt and between bunch of genres, which is a common sight. “A continuous stream of water trickles down the roof during monsoon,” says a library attendant.

Since the day the construction work by the Public Works Department (PWD) was completed in 1979-80, neither any grant has been provided to facelift nor any initiative has been taken to do the maintenance. Having reported about the situation to the administration, the authorities are awaiting funds. In addition to this, staff crunch are the reasons which have led to the humble condition of the establishment. Moreover, only the yearly grant is provided for the purchase of the new books.

“There is not even a single gatekeeper or watchman at the library,” says Surinder Kaur, the librarian of the only government-run library of the city. When the library was formed, a total of 18 posts were sanctioned for all classes. “Though only one person is to be appointed for the post of watchman, the administration is incapable of appointing one class-IV worker suitable for the job,” she adds, before going on, “But currently only four staff members are working there, a librarian, two attendants, one sweeper cum guard and a gardener.” Surinder is the lone person who is tasked with the storage and maintenance of the literature. “Earlier, there used to be three librarians for the maintenance of more than 80,000 books, but right now, I am the only one,” she shares.

Moreover, three posts of the storage keeper are vacant, no technical staff is there and just a clerk is there to keep a tab on all memberships and record of books. The librarian has witnessed all of this since her day one of joining. She narrates the ordeal. “No steps had been taken even to whitewash the walls of the building. The top of the roof had chipped off, leading to dripping. Electricity connection is another issue.” Kaur says.

Despite being in such a sorry state, the study is popular among readers, and has always been preferred due to the regular flow of books and newspapers kept here as per the public demand. The library has been included in the Smart City project so the development was expected within a year. Interestingly, Municipal Corporation (MC) in 2015 had identified the library among the prime sites for gentrification, in 2017 the former Deputy Commissioner, Varinder Kumar Sharma, had promised to take every effort to spruce up the existing infrastructure in the library.