Renovated Hardayal library,a haven for students

Now,students of Old Delhi have a spot where they can concentrate on their studies,away from all the noise and humdrum. The MCD has renovated and air-conditioned the reading rooms of Hardayal Municipal Library,one of the oldest libraries in the area.

The library has also received modern facilities,including computers on the first two floors of the building,courtesy the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It is open from 10 am to 11 pm. “The ICAI had offered to develop the new facilities to create a conducive environment for students who are pursuing courses in chartered accountancy. However,the renovated reading rooms will prove to be a boon for all visitors,” Yashpal Arya,municipal councillor and honorary secretary of the Hardayal Municipal Library,said.

The library was set up in 1862 as the Lawrence Institute Library. In 1912,after Viceroy Lord Hardinge escaped a bomb attack while passing through Chandni Chowk on an elephant,the library was shifted to a larger building to commemorate his survival and,subsequently,renamed after him.

Interestingly,after Independence,it was again renamed as Hardayal Library after Lala Hardayal,who led the bomb attack on Lord Hardinge. The library has around 1,70,000 books in Hindi,English,Urdu,Arabic,Persian,Sanskrit and Prakrit.