How many stories can a library hold? Today we will explore the Roja Muthiah Research Library. It is more than just a building filled with books. It is a treasure trove of Tamil history and culture.
The Roja Muthiah Research Library in Chennai was founded in 1994. It opened to researchers in 1996. The library provides research materials for Tamil studies. These studies span the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
This library is based on the collection of Roja Muthiah. He gathered one of the world’s finest private libraries of Tamil publications. Roja Muthiah was a sign-board artist from Kottaiyur. He became fascinated by old books and started collecting Tamil literature in 1950.
By the time of his death in 1992, his collection held nearly 100000 items. This included books, periodicals, and other literary gems. The University of Chicago bought the collection in 1994. It was decided that the library should remain in Tamil Nadu. It would form the basis of a research library.
The Roja Muthiah Research Library Trust now maintains this rare collection. It collaborates with the University of Chicago. The library holds 300000 items today. It aims to preserve and expand this historic archive.
The vast collection reflects Tamil print heritage and culture. It spans over 200 years. The earliest book is ‘Kantarantati’, published in 1804. Subjects include language, literature, medicine, religion, folklore, and modern history. It also holds oleographs, theater handbills, wedding invitations, and private letters. This unique range sets the Roja Muthiah Research Library apart from other libraries.
Tamil is a classical language spoken by over sixty million people worldwide. The Roja Muthiah Research Library is a significant institution for research and scholarship. The library recently acquired gramophone records from the 1920s and 1930s. These supplement the existing gramophone song books. The collection continues to grow through generous donations. It has increased by almost 50 percent in the last decade.
The library’s staff is world class. They have been trained in premier institutions and use the latest library techniques.
In 2007, the Roja Muthiah Research Library Trust established the Indus Research Centre. This center investigates the Indus or Harappan Civilization. The focus is especially on the undeciphered Indus Scripts. Dr. Iravatham Mahadevan is the Honorary Consultant to the Centre. The centre is open to all scholars interested in this field.
Roja Muthiah began his collection in the early 1950s. He left Kottaiyur for Madras. There he started a sign-board painting business called “Roja Arts”. He collected books from Madras’ Moore Market. He sometimes bought them in large sacks. After his collection was stolen twice, he moved back to Kottaiyur.
Roja Muthiah spent sixteen hours a day among his books. He indexed, cross-referenced, and stored them. He dusted his shelves with insect poison, which affected his health. He worried about the fate of his collection after his death.
C. S. Lakshmi from the University of Chicago knew of his concerns. After his death, she informed friends at the University of Chicago Library. The University launched a global effort to preserve Roja Muthiah’s library. From the outset, everyone wanted to keep the library in Tamilnadu.
In 1994, the library was loaded onto lorries and taken to Chennai. The library’s ownership is being transferred to the Roja Muthiah Research Library Trust. Responsibility for the library’s future rests with Tamils.
The central reading room is dedicated to A. K. Ramanujan. He was a poet, folklorist, and Tamil scholar. He introduced Sangam poetry to the English speaking world.
The Roja Muthiah Research Library is more than a library. It is a testament to one man’s passion and a community’s dedication to preserving its heritage. As you leave today consider the power of stories and the importance of those who safeguard them for generations to come.