JESSORE. April 3 Jessore Public Library (JPL) is a land mark in the history of modern library science in the country
It acts as a model for all non-government public libraries in the country
Founded in 1854. the li brary has contributed Im mensely to various cultural activities
The JPL was founded three Ks after enactment of Public ary Act by British Parliament in 1850.
Establishment of Woodburn Public Library in Bogra the Rangpur Public Library and the Barisal Public Library was fol lowed by JPL All these Public libraries were established under private initiative.
One of the six oldest Public Libraries in the sub-continent. JPL is by far the best* and largest in the country.
There is no denying the fact that communication between the East and West was opened with the foundation of Bengal Asiatic- Society by William Jones in Calcutta in 1784. It offered the west their access to literature, arts and cultural of the East.
It is learnt that the then Jessore Collector RC Reeks established JPL by the fund of zaminders or landlords of Narail and Nalganda estates. A portion of total cost was also shared by European Indigo Planters. These planters selected different sites in Jessore and settled down for indigo cultivation from 1795
According to sources, indigo cultivation was most rewarding and profitable of all crops in those days.
As such, they concentrated all their energy and attention to its cultivation more extensively.
As headquarters. Jessore became important for them. They used to some here frequently from their rural stations and stay back fro days together tn connection with business affairs. In fact. Jessore wa» then in infant stage of development as a town, having no amenities of chdc life. Dearth of place for reading room, library and club for
recreation were the main rea sons why JPL came into being to meet those psychologic demands
At the outset. JPL. served purpose of dignified personal! ties toreign visitors and local elite* only. This practice con tinned till departure of the indigo planters from the area.
In 1909 JPL was shifted to Town Hall Noted educauonal-ist and pioneer of National L> brary Movement. Professor Sharif Hoaaain. giving yivid dew option about functioi 11n^
of JPL in that period, observed that its facilities were then too far meagre Distinguished persons and elites got access to it and no outsiders excepting the senior member of Jessore Bar Council were allowed They were entitled to borrow books and journals from rare collection of English literature
works, he said
Eminent lawyer of Jessore Bar Peart Mohan Guha extended JPL s libraiy facilities to all educated middle class people, when he became first Chairman of Jessore Municipality after formation of Indian National Congress in 1885
By then, political scenarios of the sub-continent under went complete change Anti British agitation was gaining
momentum across the subcontinent People from all walks of life participated in the movement JPL later was housed in the Bishawanath Sarker (B Sarker) Memorial Hall, built by Ahonlsh Chandra Sarker. a member of Jessore Bar In memory of his beloved father, in 1927
Noted philanthropist and ex Chairman Jessore District Board. Rai Bahadur Jadunath Majumder Is still remembered for great deal of contribution to the uniform development of
Inspired and encouraged by the then District Magistrate Jessore. MA Momen *ho provided fund. Rai Bahadur Jadunath Majumder amalgamated JPL New Earth Theatre and Town Hall under thft name Jessore Institute UI) in 1928 . Rai Bahadur Jadunath Majumder was founder Secre tary General whge District Magistrate M A Momen was the President of Jessore Institute. Rote of the District Magistrate MA Momen predomi nated the process of amalga-
Durtag the World War-fl, Rovl! Air Force (RAF) occupied PuMic Library building in 1942 on war em—gency JPL was therefore shitted to Jessore
Municipality for temporary accommodation. After end of the World War -fl the library was brought back to Its original building in 1946 But It was badly damaged and rendered quite unfit for any use. No post-live efforts were made immediately for Its repair due to fund constraint.
The history of JPL presents deplorable picture during the period from 1948 to '53.
Partition of Bengal in 1947 left JI in total mismanagement and disarray It was occupied 3' anti-people and reactionary ements Advocate Badrul Alam took over charge of JI as General Secretary under bless Ings of ruling party Muslim
cancelled membership of all progressive persons In single suom pen and got a few of them arrested on charge of subversive activities
Situations change after Kowshan All was elected General Secretary in 1957
Meanwhile Jessore Institute celebrated its first anniversary in 1955 with financial aid from the United Front Government for its all-out development. When all sections of JI were reactivated and strengthened, attention of the management was paid to the publication of Quarterly Mukul. Simultaneously, school for musical training was set up to provide scope for development of artistic faculties
During this period. Professor Sharif Hossain. acted side by side with Rowshan Ali and brought radical change in over all functioning of Jessore Institute However, it suffered a terrible setback after promulgation of Martial Law in the then Pakistan under President Ayub Khan. All activities ol JI remained suspended during this time.
It passed the juncture very safely and thorough reform was effected to update the J! in keeping with norms of library science JI marked tremendous progress under dynamic leadership of Professor Sharif Hossain. In fact he was archl tect of every programme of development of JI He waa the
founder Book Bank of Jessore Institute.
Book Bank Is an institution from where books as per requisition. are supplied to other Book banks In outer stations on condition of Return within fixed date. Supply of books on different subjects, journals, magazines ana papers to other Book Banka. Libraries and reading centres against written contract are highlights of It.
No individual person is al-
lowed to take book lor use at home. Source said that JPL supplies books and other reading materials to 55 book-banks based in rural areas from Regional Central Book Bank free of charge. It is unprecedented in this zone of the country indeed.
In 1978-79. government appointed James Stephen Parker as professional Adviser to survey existing position of Public libraries in the country and reported back with recommendation for development. Source said that Parker in his comprehensive report, detailed all aspects of JI and suggested the government to accept its central Book Bank
as model to achieve greater height of success in library movement all over the country.
Interestingly. JI preserves lot of valuable works including origin of species' by Darwin published In 1878. Reports on Jessore District by James Washlander, published in 1878 from Calcutta with other 86 rare English and 53 Bengali collections. Besides 75000 l>ooks and 200 manuscripts are also collected from different places for preservation in
this Institute. In this connection reference of Professor Amirul Alam Khan and Professor Mashiul Azam deserves to be mentioned
Professor Amirul Alsm Khan. In organising Central Book Bank of JI. worked round the clock. He waa advised and supervision of Professor Sharif Hossain It will not be out of place to note here that a* per concept of modern Library science. Public Library Pom plex under the nsme Dthi Union Public Library of Shar aha thana In the district, has
of Professor Amirul Alam Khan. Professor Shartf Hossain acted
as Advisor.
Professor Moshiul Azam did lot in collecting manuscripts from distant places of Jessore and Faridpur districts.
Most manuscripts, received from Ram Narayan Public Library founded In 1907 at Lo-hagora in in Narail. by way of donation are preserved in Manuscript division of JI.
It maintains a number of clubs Including drama club. Sports club. Town Club, one Primary school. Asia Foundation. American Cultural Centre. Indian Embassy and many other organisations have presented wide varieties of books to this Institute from time to time. A special library was built for children in 1984
Lot of weeklies, fortnightlies. monthlies besides dailies are received here as complimentary copies
Int Book-Bank Hall was constructed in 1978 by the fund of Khulna Divisional Development Board It has separate arrangement for both ladies and gents. The construction of 250 seat capacity hall for reading room purpose is nearing completion.
Donations received by JI from organisations Included Jessore District Administration. Jessore Edur-ofco Board. Jessore Municipality. Khulna Divisional Deve> ^ment Board. National Bo^’. Centre. Education Ministry. Asia Foundation. Jessore Sadar Upasila and many others
Book Fair la held under initiative of Jessore Institute every year with programme of competition on different subjects. to attract visitors to develop reading habit.
Jessore Institute has 20 member committee of man agement to run Its functioning. Ine committee is elected from among its member* for a term of three years
Jessore Institutes is Historic monument to glorify cultural tradition of Jessore over the years