Published: 12:00 AM, 14 June 2016
'Panihar Library', a tale of 70 years
1. Old pale library of mud and corrugated tin shade. 2. Founder Enaytullah's son Monjur Rahman and a reader. -AA
A little house with pale corrugated tin shade, muddy wall and a sign board seems to be very simple but has a long bright history of extraordinary memories. It's a 70-year-old library named 'Panihar Library' situated in Kakonhat municipality of Godagari upazila 35 km away from Rajshahi city.
This library was established in 1945. A person named Enaytullah Master built this library to spread out the light of education among the poor and needy students. It was constructed on two acres of land, made of tin, beside his house. About 13,000 books like magazines, literature, novels, encyclopedia, religious books, poetry, science detective, botanical books, zoological boos etc are available here.
The then minister Provas Lahiri, Dhiren Datt, Ainuddin Chowdhury, Pallikabi Jasim Uddin, Bande Ali Mia, North Bengal balladist Abdul Mannan and many famous persons visited this library. Ila Mitra of Nachol in Chapainawabganj, familiar as queen, was present in this village. She studied in this library in that time. Many visitors also come here from home and abroad to collect knowledge for research. Locals said this is the only ancient library present in the area which has been crossed 70 years without touch of modernism. That is why, many literary persons like poets, writers, novelists gather here to collect rare information. The condition of the library is miserable now. The almiras are already near to be fallen with all its mighty and heavy books. The books are fallen on the floor without any protection. Grant is not met. The family members are in pressure to protect the valuable books. Panihar library was launched its journey with 100 novels of several writers keeping in a wood almirah in two rooms. At present, 7, 315 books of local and foreign writers are available here. Poet, Journalists, lecturers of universities and other famous and knowledgeable persons in the country came here to collect books. Younger son Monjur Rahman of founder Enaytullah said, the familiarity of Enaytullah is as 'knowledgeable Enaytullah' to the villagers. The reason is clear that is only he spread out the light of education in this remote region for the first time.
Monjur Rahman, son of Enaytullah said remembering the memories of his father's mouth spoken story that his father built a school after coming back home. He collected students from home to home in the area. He also selected few teachers paying off Tk 15 per month. Books of this school were brought from Kolkata to study of the students of this school. Buying more books by giving commission were brought also for the library. But there was no library room still then. The number of books were increased one by one gradually. He established this 'Panihar Library' by this few number of books in 1945. Library founder Enaytullah extended his hand to the villagers for buying books. The number of books were improved slowly. Then he constructed a soil building for the library in front of his house.
But the present condition of the library is truly worn-out. The almiras are about to start falling down now. By the name of 'Panihar Public Library' was allowed around 1958. Then it was led by Ministry of Education and Culture. Tk 500 only was given as granted in a year. The ministry handed over it to Deputy Commissioner in 1980. DC transferred it to Upazila Nirbahi Officer in 2000. Later on, no grant was come for the unlucky library.
-AA Correspondent, Godagari, Rajshahi
This library was established in 1945. A person named Enaytullah Master built this library to spread out the light of education among the poor and needy students. It was constructed on two acres of land, made of tin, beside his house. About 13,000 books like magazines, literature, novels, encyclopedia, religious books, poetry, science detective, botanical books, zoological boos etc are available here.
The then minister Provas Lahiri, Dhiren Datt, Ainuddin Chowdhury, Pallikabi Jasim Uddin, Bande Ali Mia, North Bengal balladist Abdul Mannan and many famous persons visited this library. Ila Mitra of Nachol in Chapainawabganj, familiar as queen, was present in this village. She studied in this library in that time. Many visitors also come here from home and abroad to collect knowledge for research. Locals said this is the only ancient library present in the area which has been crossed 70 years without touch of modernism. That is why, many literary persons like poets, writers, novelists gather here to collect rare information. The condition of the library is miserable now. The almiras are already near to be fallen with all its mighty and heavy books. The books are fallen on the floor without any protection. Grant is not met. The family members are in pressure to protect the valuable books. Panihar library was launched its journey with 100 novels of several writers keeping in a wood almirah in two rooms. At present, 7, 315 books of local and foreign writers are available here. Poet, Journalists, lecturers of universities and other famous and knowledgeable persons in the country came here to collect books. Younger son Monjur Rahman of founder Enaytullah said, the familiarity of Enaytullah is as 'knowledgeable Enaytullah' to the villagers. The reason is clear that is only he spread out the light of education in this remote region for the first time.
Monjur Rahman, son of Enaytullah said remembering the memories of his father's mouth spoken story that his father built a school after coming back home. He collected students from home to home in the area. He also selected few teachers paying off Tk 15 per month. Books of this school were brought from Kolkata to study of the students of this school. Buying more books by giving commission were brought also for the library. But there was no library room still then. The number of books were increased one by one gradually. He established this 'Panihar Library' by this few number of books in 1945. Library founder Enaytullah extended his hand to the villagers for buying books. The number of books were improved slowly. Then he constructed a soil building for the library in front of his house.
But the present condition of the library is truly worn-out. The almiras are about to start falling down now. By the name of 'Panihar Public Library' was allowed around 1958. Then it was led by Ministry of Education and Culture. Tk 500 only was given as granted in a year. The ministry handed over it to Deputy Commissioner in 1980. DC transferred it to Upazila Nirbahi Officer in 2000. Later on, no grant was come for the unlucky library.
-AA Correspondent, Godagari, Rajshahi
