A glimpse of Chandranath Sharma Griha Library: A library of heritage

Ranjan Kumar Padmapati

(The writer can be reached at rkpadmapati@yahoo.co.in)

The writer of this document considers himself to be fortunate enough to have a glimpse of two libraries of antiquity. First one is the personal library that Late Prafulla Bezborooah had maintained where original works of Lakshminath Bezboroa were preserved . In the same premises I saw the mortal remains ( Asthi, bone relics ) of Lakshminath Bezbaroa and Pragyasundari Debi. The second one that I had a glimpse was “Chandranath Sharmah Griha Library” established by Dandinath Kalita in memory of his friend Chandranath Sarmah in 1945. Both were close friends and were engaged in literary works since their tender age of school days. In the Cotton College,Chandranath Sharma helped Dandinath Kalita by arranging a private tuition at Sharma’s father-in-law’s house to ease the financial hardship. Chandranath Sharma was born on 9th December, 1889 at Bihoguri, Tezpur. He contributed immensely towards literature, education, and was also a prolific writer, but, above all, a veteran freedom fighter. He was of the same stature of Nabin Chandra Bordoloi, Kuladhar Chaliha, Gopinath Bordoloi and Tarun Ram Phukan in the freedom movement . Chandranath was the first to boycott the legal profession in Assam, according to Gandhi’s call and then others followed him. Now preparations are on to mark the hundredth year of death anniversary of Chandranath who died on 20th July , 1922 at an early age of thirty two and a half.

Chandranath played a pivotal role to invite Mahatma Gandhi to Assam in 1921 for the first time. Accordingly Gandhi arrived at Guwahati on 18 August, 1921. He was behind the prime force to establish the Assam Association in 1903 and Assam Students’ Conference in 1916. According to Dandinath Kalita , Chandranath Sharma prepared the ground work for formation of the Asom Sahitya Sabha. Sharma jointly edited the Chetana with Ambika Roy Choudhury in 1919 . His thought provoking articles were scattered in the Usha, Assam Bilasini, Seuti, etc. He authored a few books namely ”Bosha Phul”, “Bosha Phulor Karoni”,” Bidya Sagar” and “Matriculation, Translation and Composition”.

The Chandranath Sharma Griha Library does not exist now, but only bears the stamp (seal) mark on the books and periodicals that Kalita had once collected and preserved. Most of the books are either damaged while shifting house or eaten away by termite . It is known that the stamp (seal) was chiseled into a Brajawani tree ( a local variety) thorn by Kalita himself . Litterateur Dandinath Kalita was a good craft man too, who knew how to make domestic bamboo and wooden objects for house usage. He also trained his sons accordingly to become self reliant. His son Dr Bishwa Ranjan Kalita knows how to make Bamboo household articles like Khorahee (basket), saloni (sieve), kula ( hand husk blower). That was the level of training Dandi Kalita imparted to children .

The old furniture catch the eyes , and still look new . These are a hundred year old wooden writing table, four chairs used by Kalita and two wooden almirahs packed with old books and periodical. It would have been a collection of wonderful rare books of antiquity, had all those been preserved meticulously. The left over books are preserved at the Dandinath Kalita Smriti Bhawan under the aegis of the Dandinath Kalita Memorial Trust founded in 2010. The consolidated list of books and periodicals would be long. The most attractive ones are 24 volumes of pucca bound “Abahan”, ‘Milon”, “Jayanti” all issued from the first year to the third year of publication, including copies of ‘Banhi”, Hemkosh” in original print published in 1900, and a few copies of ” Asom Sahitya Sobha Patrika” and “ The New Dictionary of Thoughts” by Standard Book Company , New York, ”Phakara” by Katiram Burha Bhakat, 1933 and “Asomiya Sahitya Kosh” by Sarbeswar Kataki 1930, just to mention a few of them . A few booklets include “ Asom Kar” by Dandinath’s son Late Hirany Ranjan Kalita, “Griha Yudha Amak Nalage” published by Jorhat Muslim League , “ Sorol Bhakti”, 1928 by Mohidhar Bhuyan ,”Shri Shri Damodor Charitra” published by the Asom Sahitya Sobha , “Gohai Phukan” by Jagadish Ch Medhi 1927, “Bakhor” by Lakshminath Bezboroa ,a few copies of “Ghor Jeuti” ladies’ first periodicals .The list is indicative, only not exhaustive . The beauty of the library is that original works (editions) can be seen though new compilations of many periodicals are reprinted now. Books by relatively lesser known writers of distant past like Khagendranath Das, Dhan Chandra Das, Prafulla Kumar Mishra, Mohadeb Sharma, Umakanta Tamuli, Anirash Bosumotari and some others can be spotted there .

It was a quick glimpse on the library of bygone days that Dandinath Kalita raised in honour of Chandranath Sarmah . Kalita took all the pains to take the books to Kolkata to get those pucca bound and termite treatment .Kalita’s name is engraved on the pucca bound collections . Those old magazines contain very old photographs and paintings that may have historical relevance even today. Two paintings that caught my eyes on the glance are a painting by Bishnu Prasad Rabha , titled “shrishti” published in “Abahan “ in the 9th year, First Issue in 1937 2 Painting byTarun Duwara , titled “ Sundor Jeewon” in “Abahan” in 1938 ,10th year 2nd issue . Dr Biswa Ranjan Kalita is the custodian of the intellectual properties now. The library will be open for public shortly. The library is a golden treasure, and needs conservative efforts.