To,
Chief Minister, Bihar

Subject- To consider other options of flyover while keeping the internationally renowned Khuda Bakhsh library and other historical buildings intact!

Sir,

Recently, the Bihar government has prepared a proposal to demolish the heritage Curzon reading room of the historic Khuda Bakhsh library for a flyover from Gandhi maidan to NIT via PMCH and make the way for new metro rail. In this context, 'Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Ltd' has demanded a NOC from the library officials to demolish a part of the ‘Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library’. The decision to demolish this very important and historical heritage is outrageous and has shocked us as citizens and it is being opposed on a large scale.

In this context, I want to draw your attention to the following points:

● In view of the historical significance of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library established in 1891, the Parliament of India, through an Act in 1969, has identified it as an 'autonomous body' of national importance'. The library is an educational research center under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, headed by the Governor of Bihar.

● Khuda Bakhsh Library was founded by Khuda Baksh (1842–1908) in Patna with his own 4000 manuscripts. Presently the library has 21000 manuscripts and 250,000 books. Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru and statesman like C.V.Raman were some of its visitors. A Hindi dictionary prepared by Aurangzeb Alamgir in 1674 in Persian for his sons is a prized possession of this historical library. The library is a storehouse of countless manuscripts and historical books like this, which needs to be cherished and enriched as a heritage, rather than being demolished!

● It has been decided to demolish the library's heritage building Curzon reading room built in 1905 for the construction of the proposed flyover. Mahatma Gandhi used to read in the same Curzon reading room of Khuda bakhsh Library during his visit to Patna. What Gandhiji wrote on the visitor's book of the library during that period shows the historical significance of this library. 

● The proposed elevated road plan will demolish not only the historic heritage like Khuda bakhsh Library but also B N College, Catholic Church, Patna Dental College, Bihar Young Men's Institute, PMCH (Women's Department of Hospital, Surgical Emergency building, some important OPD structure etc.), Bihar Urdu Academy, Patna College (Department of ancient history & main gate), Patna University (Newly Built Main Gate, old Senate building etc.) and Science College campus. All these institutions and their buildings are historical heritage of Bihar and most are over 100 years old. The citizens of Bihar consider that all these institutions are of historical importance and needs to be conserved and enriched instead of demolishing them for a flyover.

At present, this international heritage and educational institution is being demolished for an elevated road. Is it the last option? No ! There are more options.
As stated, the main objective of this scheme of the government is to facilitate traffic going to the PMCH (Patna Medical College and Hospital) and NIT and to connect those coming from outside the Patna directly to the hospital. But to achieve this objective, there are more options without demolishing this historical heritage.

In lieu of this, the government has the following options.

● It is worth mentioning that the Ganga Expressway is under construction along the Ganga in Patna which is parallel to the proposed elevated road. This expressway can be connected at PMCH and NIT.

● By turning right from the Kargil Chowk of Gandhi Maidan via the Collectorate and SBI building, the elevated road can be connected to the Ganga Expressway and further connected with PMCH and NIT.

● The road adjacent to BN College at Ashok Rajpath can be connected to Ganga Expressway via SBI as elevated road.

● The elevated road can be connected to the Ganga Expressway via the Shiv temple east of the civil court via Saint Joseph at Ashok Rajpath.

● The number of traffic on Ashok Rajpath will be reduced anyway after the Ganga Expressway is ready. Even after that, if it is found, it can be made more accessible by declaring that route as 'One Way' and by keeping the traffic police.

These historical heritages can be saved by implementing above proposals. This will serve the purpose of the government and will also save money.

Sir, there are many options to keep the historical heritages (Khuda Bakhsh Library, Patna College, Patna University, Science College etc.) and their buildings intact and also facilitate traffic.

Therefore, we appeal to you that keeping in view the historical importance of these institutions, alternative measures should be seriously considered. Your positive initiative on this issue will send a good message to India and abroad.

Yours-
Save the Khuda Bakhsh Library - Save the Heritage
Front
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Organizations and individuals involved:-

1. Sudama Prasad, Chairman, Library Committee, Bihar Legislative Assembly
2. Sandeep Saurav, Member, Library Committee, Bihar Legislative Assembly
3. Ajit Kushwaha, Member, Heritage Committee, Bihar Legislative Assembly
4. Prof. Santosh Kumar, Retired Teacher, NIT, Patna
5. Prof. Bharti S. Kumar, Former Head of Department, History Department, Patna University
6. Ghalib, Educationist, Patna
7. Shri Ranjeev, water activist and social worker
8. Dr. Satyajit Singh, eminent doctor
9. Prof. Arun Kamal - Teacher and Poet
10. Santosh Sahar - Editor, Samkaleen Lokyuddh
11. Prof. Vidyarthi Vikas, Assistant Professor, AN Sinha, Institute, Patna
12. Dr. PNP Pal, Eminent Doctor
13. Prof. Daisy Narayan, Former Head of Department of History,Patna University
14. Dr. Nandkishore Singh, Political Activist
15. Prof. Safdar Imam Qadri, Writer, Professor, Pataliputra University
16. Prof. DM Diwakar, Former Director, AN Sinha, Institute, Patna
17. Nivedita Jha, Bihar Mahila Samaj
18. Kanchanbala
19. Krishnanandan Singh, PMCH, Employees Leader
20. Pushparaj, writer and journalist
21. Afzal Hussain
22. Dr. Gopal Krishna, Law and Public Policy Researcher
23. Asma Khan, Insaf Manch

24.Mushtaq Rahat - Insaf Manch
25.Arkaja, Center for Policy Research Delhi
26. Pranab Kumar Chaudhary, Senior Journalist
27. Ajay Kumar, Editor, Bihar Times
28. Preeti Sinha, Editor, Currently
29. Amar Prasad Yadav, Social Activist
30. Ashok Priyadarshi - Jan Mukti Sanghrsh Vahini
31. Meera Dutt - Editor,Talash
32. Abhay Pandey - Purvanchal Lok Utthan Shodh Parishad
33. Dr. Alim Akhtar - Senior Professor, Buddha Dental
34. Shah Rukh - Advocate, Supreme Court
35. Javed Ahmed - Advocate
36. Imran Khan - Journalist and Social Activist
37. Prof. BN Singh - Former Head of Department, LSW, Patna University
38. Prof. Arvind Kumar, Retired Professor, Pataliputra University
39. Prof. Satyendra Kumar Singh, Principal, Nursarai College, Nalanda
40. Nabav Alam, Theatrical
41. Dr. Kamlesh Sharma, AIPF
42. Amitabh Kumar Das, former IPS
43. Rajneesh Bhardwaj, educationist
44. Surur Ahmed, Journalist
45. Dr. Ashok Kumar, Lecturer, Department of History, Patna University
46. Abhyuday- AIPF
47. Hiraval
48. AISA
49. AISF
50. SDPI
51. SFI
52. AIPWA
53. Jan Sanskriti Manch
54. Abhiyan