RESTORE AND PRESERVE THE KARMABIR NABIN CHANDRA BORDOLOI LIBRARY CAMPUS

For more than a century, the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Library has stood as one of Guwahati's most important public institutions. Its story is inseparable from the story of the city itself.

In 1900, when Guwahati was still a small town recovering from the devastating 1897 Assam earthquake, its citizens raised public donations to welcome Lord Curzon during his visit to Assam. Instead of spending the funds on a ceremonial reception, social reformer Manik Chandra Barua proposed that the money be used to build a permanent public hall for the people of Guwahati. That vision gave birth to the Curzon Hall—built through public contribution rather than government allocation—which was later relocated to Dighalipukhuri in 1912 and eventually became today's Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Library.

Over the decades, this hall became far more than a library. It witnessed some of the defining moments of Assam's intellectual, literary and political history. Ancient Assamese manuscripts and coins were preserved here. Rabindranath Tagore received a public reception here. Sir Henry Cotton addressed the people from this hall. Personalities such as Acharya P. C. Roy, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, C. F. Andrews and Jayaprakash Narayan all visited or addressed gatherings here. It was from this very hall that Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi appealed to Cotton College students to join Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement. The first committee demanding the establishment of Gauhati University was constituted here. During the Second World War, the hall even served as a temporary campus for Cotton College. Guwahati's first May Day observance, the city's first public Bihutoli, and the region's first recorded book fair all trace their roots to this institution. In recognition of its extraordinary contribution to Assam's public life, the hall was renamed in 1953 in honour of freedom fighter Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi.

Today, however, the campus presents a deeply troubling contrast to this remarkable history.

Large sections of the library compound are occupied by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation's Enforcement Branch and are being used to store materials seized during anti-encroachment drives, including dismantled shop structures, handcarts, furniture and scrap. Visitors have described conditions that are inconsistent with the purpose and dignity of a historic public library and reading hall.

The challenges faced by the library extend beyond its campus. As highlighted in the memorandum submitted to the authorities, the library does not presently have a full-time Assistant Librarian. Appointing one would significantly improve the sorting, upkeep of the collection and the day-to-day services provided to readers.

We therefore respectfully urge the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the concerned authorities to:

• Relocate the GMC Enforcement Branch from the library campus to a suitable municipal facility.

• Remove the storage of seized materials, dismantled structures, scrap and other enforcement-related articles from the library premises.

• Restore the entire campus exclusively for educational, literary and cultural purposes.

• Protect the library campus from future occupation by offices, storage facilities or activities unrelated to the objectives of the library.

• Maintain and preserve the campus in a manner befitting its historical and heritage significance.

• Appoint a full-time Assistant Librarian to strengthen library services and improve the experience of readers.

The Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Library was created through the vision and generosity of the people of Guwahati. For more than a hundred years, it has nurtured education, literature, public debate and cultural life. It is a place where the city's past continues to inspire its future.

Let us come together to preserve this shared heritage and ensure that future generations inherit a library campus worthy of its extraordinary history.

TRANSPARENCY, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS & OUR NEXT STEPS

This petition is based on documentary evidence and a formal memorandum prepared for submission to the concerned authorities. We believe that every supporter has the right to examine the facts on which this campaign is based.

Accordingly, we have made the following documents publicly available for reference:

• Historical Background of the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Library – documenting the institution's origins, evolution and historical significance.
• Formal Memorandum – that will be submitted to the concerned authorities, outlining the issues affecting the library campus and the specific actions being requested.
• Newspaper Reports & Media References – a collection of news articles documenting developments relating to the library over the years.

These documents are available here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vHT0Qw_EMHNii45umGvEoojtRDFWOpM_?usp=drive_link

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SIGN?

This petition forms part of a broader citizen-led initiative to restore the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Library campus.

After collecting public support through this petition, we intend to formally submit:

• the Memorandum,
• this petition together with its signatures,
• the historical documentation,
• newspaper references,
• supporting photographs, and
• any additional supporting material to the concerned authorities for their consideration.

The progress of the campaign—including acknowledgements, responses from authorities, future representations and important developments—will be shared through updates on this petition so that every supporter remains informed.

We encourage every prospective signer to read the supporting documents, examine the evidence and make an informed decision before adding their name to this campaign.