The Tamil Library in Tranquebar (1708) and its Significance The Tamil Library in Tranquebar (1708) and its Significance
Keywords: Tamil literature, History of libraries, Indian Christians
Abstract
Historians of libraries have thus far asserted that the library of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) and the Calcutta Public Library (1836) are the
forerunners of public libraries in contemporary India. By contrast, this essay
presents the Tamil Library (Bibliotheca Malabarica) in Tarangambādi
(Tranquebar) in 1708 as the first public library of modern India. The essay gives an overview of German Lutheran Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg (1682–1719) work of cataloguing the extensive literature contained in the library, concluding that the historic memory of the library Tamil Library can powerfully speak to the current conditions and use of public libraries in our places
Published
2024-05-31
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