THE BACKDROP:
The Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya, a 124-year-old government library in Mumbai, faces a critical challenge. Designated a special museum by the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education (Maharashtra) in 2019, this esteemed institution boasts an impressive collection of over 645,569 Marathi books, including rare volumes dating back 200 years.
Pic: Image of the Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya, located in the heart of Mumbai, Dadar East.
However, time is taking its toll. Pages are worn out, torn, and soiled, while bindings are loose and falling apart.
THE INITIATIVE:
To address this issue, I am launching the Adopt a Book Project, a personal initiative to restore and conserve the library's rare books, ensuring their availability for future generations. Expert conservators will refurbish books using Japanese paper and specialized techniques, including:
-Fumigation: to remove pests and prevent further damage
-Paper treatment: to restore and strengthen the paper
- Rebinding:to repair and replace loose bindings
- Paper repair:to mend torn and damaged pages
The selection of books for restoration will prioritize those written during or associated with India's freedom struggle and freedom fighters, based on cultural rarity and extent of damage. Once restored, the books will be made available for borrowing or display, pending the library's decision. The time taken to restore a book depends on multiple factors including the state of the book, the skill of the restorer, the extent of the damage, etc.
The Adopt a Book Project is a crucial step in preserving our cultural heritage for future generations.
My goal is to kickstart the restoration process for the first batch of books while igniting a community-wide effort to preserve cultural heritage and educate the public about its enduring value.
WHY DOES THIS PROJECT MATTER?
- Preserves cultural heritage
- Raises awareness about book conservation
- Supports community engagement
- Restore 30 rare books
- Raise awareness about preserving cultural texts
- Ensure the library's collection remains accessible
Together, let's preserve the rich history of Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya.
ABOUT ME:
I'm Saachi Khandeparkar. I'm an avid reader with a passion for preserving cultural heritage. During a visit to the Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya, I was captivated by the rare Marathi texts, but concerned by their deteriorating condition.
This sparked a desire to contribute to their restoration. Inspired by the British Council Library's innovative approach, I launched my own initiative - "Adopt a Book." This project aims to restore and preserve the precious texts at the Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya. Each book requires INR 2000 to be meticulously restored, ensuring their availability for future generations.
Through "Adopt a Book," I strive to safeguard Marathi literature and promote linguistic diversity. Your contribution will directly support the restoration of these rare texts, ensuring their accessibility for scholars, researchers, and book lovers alike! Let's preserve our cultural legacy together. Every book restored is a step towards shaping our future and appreciating our rich heritage.
Join me in protecting pieces of our history to create a better tomorrow.
LOCATION OF THE LIBRARY:
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