Though the library is on Maharashtra Government's priority list of renovation, the work has been delayed in absence of clearance from the Heritage Committee.
MUMBAI: The Asiatic Society of Mumbai's library, one of the oldest structures in the city, is facing trouble in saving its rare collection of books and manuscripts due to a leakage in its roof.
Though the library is on Maharashtra Government's priority list of renovation, the work has been delayed in absence of clearance from the Heritage Committee.
The State Government in it's annual budget has made a provision of Rs 30 crore for the renovation of Grade I heritage structures. The two structures chosen for a face lift include the Asiatic Society and the Old Customs House located close to the library.
"The Committee's nod is needed to go ahead with the renovation work," President of Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Arun Tikekar said.
The government has temporarily sealed the roof with tar, Tikekar said adding the leakage occurs every monsoon and the Society has been continuously reminding the government for water proofing work.
"Leakage is not the only problem. The wooden flooring is also weakening. The Library has preservation laboratory and many valuable books are kept underground. The moisture due t leakage may result in the wooden floor rotting, resulting in damage to the library's treasure trove of thousands of books, some of them rare," Tikekar said.
The Society was established by Sir James Mackintosh in 1804 for promotion of arts, science and culture and was known as Bombay Literary Society. In 1830, it moved to its present location, the Town Hall building which was then freshly built.
The Library has a rich collection of books and Sanskrit, Prakrit, Persian, Arabian, Marathi, Gujarati, Urdu, Greek, Latin, Italian and English manuscripts.
These include Noteworthy Words and Deeds, a work on Roman history, published between 1447 and 1500.
'Tulius de Oratore cum Commento et alia Opera', the edition of Ciceros famous work on rhetoric was printed in 1497 by Anthony Koberger.
'Hygini Astronomi' by Hyginius written in Latin is based on astronomy and was printed at Venice in the year 1512.
'La Divina Comedia' by Dante Alighari, the edition in three volumes richly illustrated Venice publisher Antonio Zatta in the year 1757-55, are some of the valueables, Tikekar said.
A prominent feature of the Asiatic Society is the Durbar Hall where numerous scholars and historians have held lectures. Public meetings, general body meetings and exhibitions are also held here.
The Society is planning to renovate accoustics system of the hall with Rs 15 lakh sanctioned by the MMRDA, Tikekar said.
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