Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library director vacancy draws parliamentary panel concern

A parliamentary panel has raised concerns that the director post at the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna has been vacant since August 2023. It has sought a report from the Ministry of Culture, recommended filling the position within 90 days, and asked for a clear timeline to complete the National Archives of India digitisation project.

A parliamentary committee has flagged two delays linked to the Ministry of Culture. It questioned why the director’s post at the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library in Patna stayed vacant since August 2023. The panel also urged the ministry to fix clear deadlines for digitising records at the National Archives of India.

The concerns were recorded in the committee’s report, "Demands for Grants 2026-27 of the Ministry of Culture\". The report was presented in Parliament on March 25. During evidence, the panel noted that appointment panels were submitted. Yet, the director’s role at the Patna library remained unfilled.

Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library director vacancy

The committee recommended that the ministry fill the director vacancy within 90 days. It also asked for a report explaining the delay. The full-time director’s post is linked to the library on Ashok Rajpath in Patna. The post has remained vacant since August 2023.

The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library began in the late 19th century. Moulawi Khuda Bakhsh Khan set it up after inheriting a collection from Moulawi Mohammad Bakhsh. It opened to the public in 1891 as the Oriental Public Library. In 1969, the Government of India declared it an institution of national importance.

Over time, the library received several visitors from India and abroad. The list included at least six former British viceroys. Other visitors included Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Rabindranath Tagore and four presidents of India also visited, the report noted.

According to the Bihar Tourism website, the library holds 21,000 manuscripts. It also has about 2.5 lakh printed books. These items span Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, English and Turkish. The collection also includes material in many other languages.

Among its rare items is the Tarikh-e-Khandan-e-Timuriyah. It is a richly illustrated manuscript on Turco-Mughal conqueror Taimur and descendants. The report said the library has the only extant copy. The library also holds a copy of Lord Byron’s Ode to Napoleon.

Other items include a miniature of the Quran that is 2.5 mm wide. The report described the library as holding a major repository of manuscripts and books. The committee’s note linked the long vacancy to concerns over administration. It sought prompt action from the Ministry of Culture.

National Archives of India digitisation project timeline

The committee also reviewed a major digitisation project at the National Archives of India. The Ministry of Culture told the panel the target covered 30 crore pages. The ministry added that 11 crore pages were digitised. It said these pages were uploaded on the Abhilekh portal.

The ministry also told the committee it planned to finish the remaining work in the next year. The panel asked the ministry to set a timeline for completion. It also recommended quarterly progress reports. The panel said regular updates would help track delivery and address delays.

The committee further proposed standard operating procedures for state archives coordination. It said the ministry should include quality benchmarks for digitisation and conservation. It recommended issuing these as formal guidelines to all state governments. The aim was consistent standards across states and better long-term preservation.

The report also stressed the need to use digitised archives in a meaningful way. It said the effort should improve access for researchers, students and the general public. It added that the ministry may explore linking content with educational platforms. It also mentioned the National Digital Library ecosystem in coordination with the Ministry of Education.

The panel’s recommendations placed focus on staffing and delivery timelines. It sought a quick appointment at the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library. It also asked for deadlines, updates and standards for the National Archives of India project. The committee linked both issues to public access and proper management of cultural records.

With inputs from PTI