Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

When I've read first 'Pather Panchali' child edition in school in early 70s, I came to know that a film also made baaed on this book. 'Aam Antir Bhepu' (আম আঁটির ভেঁপু) was also a chapter of this book we had to study in school. I had a scope soon to watch the film 'Pather Panchali'. But, the original novel was yet to come to me. .    I've read the original 'Pather Panchali' book borrowing from library. We had a vast library in school and I used to love the story books of that library instead my books for studies. Every Saturday, after the leave, the teacher used to call the names and gave us a book to brought it to home to read on Sunday. By this way, I've read many popular story books written for children. .   Gradually, I became fan of author Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, not only for his 'Pather Panchali', but 'Aparajito' and many other novels including his famous short story books. I could relate me with Apu -...

On this day, in the year 1836, Calcutta National Library was founded, but it was then Calcutta Public Library. On 30th January, 1903 it was named Calcutta Imperial Library and in independent India, it became National Library on 1 February, 1953.        The Imperial Library was formed in 1891 by combining several secretariat libraries especially of the then Home Department. In the year 1910, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was appointed as president of the Imperial Library Council and he donated his personal collection of 80,000 books to the library by arranging a separate section.       After independence, the government of India announced it as the National Library of India in the year 1953.       At present, there are 86,000 maps and 3,200 manuscripts in the library. Moreover, all the magazines and periodicals published in India in about 15 languages are regularly kept in this library.

Toy libraries now growing in the city to cater to kid clients from toddlers to the time upto age 8 and hence their parents are also happy to save money. Affluent parents of the city had to spent minimum 3000 rupees a month for two or three branded toys to meet up their children's craves. And it is a known fact that kids always need new toys. Now as the toy libraries are here in the city, parents sighing relief by borrowing branded toys for their children for a minimum subscription. Children can borrow up to eight toys in a month from these libraries in lieu of a membership fee varying between Rs 350 and Rs 800. Once bored with these toys, they can exchange them for new ones. Apart from a physical set up where children can come and select toys, these toy libraries also have an online presence. The parents and kids can simply log on to their website, choose toys and order online. Nutty Newton, Toyz World, Toy Land are some such libraries that started as a single ...

30 January, in the year 1903 the then Governor Lord Curzon established the Imperial Library at the treasure of books - Metcalfe Hall in Kolkata. First librarian of this library was John Macfarlane of British Museum, then Sir Harinath Dey became its librarian.