At Delhi’s oldest public library, unpaid power bills leave students in the dark

The only public library in the city that is open until around 10.30 pm — the others shut by 8 pm — the Hardayal library is the oldest surviving one in the national capital. During a visit to the library in the evening, The Indian Express found 10 students huddled around lamps in small groups. On the table, alongside books, notebooks, pens and phones were wires to reconnect lamps to battery packs in case there was a problem.

At the core of the issue is a dispute between the Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party over the elections to the library’s managing body.

The library is a large, flat-roofed building with a spacious interior and racks full of used, dusty books. Supported by circular pillars, it once used to exude a historic charm but currently lies in ruin over bureaucratic strife at the MCD, leading to a delay in allotment of funds and payment of employee salaries.

With over 1 lakh books, the library is located next to the Chandni Chowk Metro and Kotwali police station. The library was established in 1862 as a British reading room. Originally referred to as the Institute Library, it was later renamed after the freedom fighter — Har Dayal Mathur.

Students study in the library without electricity. (Express Photos)

Most students who still come to the library in the evening are from low-income families and lack a conducive space to study at home.

“Earlier, around 50-60 students would be present in the library in the evenings. There were times when there was no place to sit. Now, it is always dirty and only 10-15 students come here. I don’t have any privacy at home since there are 27 members in my joint family home. We also have cattle and it is not possible for me to study in that environment, which is why the library was ideal for me,” said Shaukeen.

Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “Many of us have been looking for an alternate place to study since the electricity was cut off on September 17, but we could not find one as convenient as Hardayal library.”

The Delhi Public Library closes at 6 pm, the Marwari Public Library at 7 pm, and the Mahavir Jain Library at 8 pm. A few university libraries are open 24×7, but are accessible only to students. Hardayal library is open until 10.30 pm and a lifetime library membership costs Rs 5,000, while an annual membership costs Rs 1,200.

No electricity also means no water which has left women students at a disadvantage. Vanshika, an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Sitaram Bazaar, said, “The toilets have been dirty since the library staff went on protest over non-payment of salaries nearly two years ago. This is a huge issue as a clean toilet is extremely important for women. We have been using the facilities at the nearby Metro and police stations.”

In April, Mayor Shelly Oberoi committed to paying library staff members who hadn’t received salaries in two years. A verification committee was also formed for salary distribution. The civic body had stated that this committee would submit a report in 15 days. At the monthly house meeting of the MCD on August 31, a motion was approved to establish a new managing body for the library, as the current one selected during the BJP’s MCD tenure had come to the end of its term.

On October 31, one month later, the Mayor — who also serves as the library’s ex-officio chairperson — appointed six of the 11 new members of the management committee. Preeti, an AAP councillor from Dilshad Colony, was named committee secretary. After the appointment, the Mayor gave library staff members renewed hope and announced that their paycheques would be sent out before Diwali.

In the meantime, former library secretary and BJP member, Poonam Parashar Jha, filed an application in the Delhi High Court alleging that rules were broken in the formation of the new management committee. “As a professional in library sciences, Hardayal is close to my heart; unfortunately, the MCD has not been able to pass a grant to revive its power connection. The AAP has elected a new committee without giving me a notice of dismissal. Students living in humble dwellings and below poverty-line households who study there are suffering,” she said.

While the library recently received approval for a grant of Rs 2.26 crore on November 29, it cannot be processed till the Commissioner grants approval.

Present secretary, Preeti, told The Indian Express: “I have been to the library several times since my appointment, and each time I go, it is in appalling shape. However, in the last two days, staff members have resumed cleaning the library, something I believe hasn’t been done in over two years… I am shocked that the previous secretary couldn’t even make sure money is left over for necessities.”

Oberoi’s office, meanwhile, said funds will be released within a week. “Rs 2.26 crore will be used to pay the electricity bill and pending salary for a year to 96 employees.”