The Chaitanya Library

The area is Chitpore, next to the adjacent building situated the century old Minerva Theater. But in the midst of this theatrical aroma, exists a literary society, serving the intellectual minds for over 125 years now. Chaitanya Library is among the earliest public libraries of Calcutta. Closely associated with Rabindra Nath Tagore, the organization was founded in 1889 under the name of CHAITANYA LIBRARY & BEADON SQUARE LITERARY CLUB.
The first instance of a literary society in colonial India dates back to the first half of nineteenth century when Madras Literary Society was established, followed by the Bombay General Library. But the former one was meant exclusively for the British people while the latter was for the Indians. Colonial Calcutta got its taste of literary hub in 1836 with the foundation of Calcutta Public Library (CPL), result of a collaboration between Indians and Britons. It was established in part to commemorate the Acting Governor General Charles Metcalfe's Act XI of 1835, popularly known as Metcalfe Press Law, abolishing the press restrictions and granting freedom of expression. Established on a public subscription basis, CPL's prime benefactors were the Indians, including Prince Dwarka Nath Tagore. The library eventually absorbed into it several smaller libraries and became the Imperial Library in 1903. With this formation it ceased to be a public circulation library and started to run on a reference and deposit basis. Post independence it was converted into the National Library of India in 1948.
Controversey over Bankimchandra's Condolence Meeting -
Chaitanya Library was the witness of an interesting episode of Bengal literature. Rabindranath Tagore, a frequent visitor to this library addressed the crowd on many occasions. Once he spoke of his journey to Europe where the gathering was presided over by Rishi Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay later on. So their close associations with the society can be assumed from this fact.

The Library Timing is
6 AM - 9.30 AM
4.30 PM - 9.30 PM

Historic Library, inspiring Young artists for good work

Library

The Chaitanya Library

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