PIL Seeks National Mission Status for Sarasvati Mahal Library

Quick Summary

• The madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued notices to the Center and Tamil Nadu State government following a Public Interest Litigation by B.Prabhakaran from Chennai.
• The petition demands classifying Thanjavur’s Sarasvati Mahal Library as a Model Library under the National Mission on Libraries (Ministry of Culture).
• Established during the 16th century by Nayak rulers and later enriched under Maratha king Serfoji II, the library is one of Asia’s oldest surviving repositories of ancient knowledge with ancient, socio-cultural, and academic meaning.
• The petitioner alleges administrative neglect including staff shortages, poorly implemented digitisation efforts, lack of preservation initiatives leading to loss/damage to valuable texts.
• A request was made for restoration measures such as digitisation programs and infrastructure growth funded via grants-in-aid.
• Hearing adjourned for two weeks.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Sarasvati Mahal Library’s historical significance underscores its potential as a vital cultural resource not just for India but globally. Its current state highlights an urgent need for systematic preservation efforts. Implementing digitisation plans under structured funding schemes could not only safeguard rare manuscripts but also boost accessibility for research scholars worldwide. Aligning this project with initiatives like the National Mission on Libraries may be well-positioned to generate institutional support.

The case emphasizes India’s obligation in preserving endangered heritage resources within government cultural missions-reinforcing broader societal benefits through knowledge conservation and dissemination. Courts scrutinizing lapses in administrative commitment toward heritage are timely interventions that echo public demand for accountability.

Read more: Link