Lalit Narayan Mithila University to open heritage cell, approaches NAI

Seeking to preserve its bibliographic and architectural legacy, a prominent university here has set the wheels in motion to set up a heritage cell in its campus, perhaps the first such initiative in Bihar.

The Lalit Narayan Mithila University (LNMU), located in this historic city in north Bihar, is housed in a 19th century palatial building complex, constructed by the zamindars of Darbhanga Raj, and the initiative has been appreciated by the governor of the state.

"LNMU has a rich collection of books, manuscripts, photographs and other bibliographic material in the central library drawn from the repository of the Darbhanga Raj. Ourbuildings are also a priceless heritage and therefore a heritage cell was the need of the hour", Vice Chancellor ofLNMU, S K Singh, told PTI.

He said the model was inspired by the upkeep of heritage at famed universities like the Oxford University.

"By virtue of our location, we have inherited a great architectural legacy. Besides, the main building (previously Raj Secretariat), there are other heritage buildings which form part of the university. And, so this heritage cell will help foster a systematic preservation culture in the campus", he said.

Read more: Bihar shocker: 3 rescued kids from shelter home were kept with their limbs tied

Besides, the main building, a magnificent structure surrounded with lush gardens and ornate fountains, other landmarks under its ambit include, the European Guest House (now Gandhi Sadan), and Nargaona Palace, rebuilt after thedevastating 1934 earthquake.

"We have already set up an informal committee, which will manage the heritage cell. Besides, we had received a proposal from the National Archives of India for digitisation of our rich collection in the library. So, I have already written to them (NAI), seeking funds for it. Also, the Bihar StateArchives has strongly endorsed our initiative," Singh said.

According to the university, set up in 1972, it is inpossession of 70,935 volumes of rare books, journals and manuscripts donated by the liberal Darbhanga Raj in 1975.

"Besides, in the course of the last over 30 years, it has acquired over 1,60,000 volumes of books and journals. Hayward British Parliamentary Debates, Goods sets of Pictorial Books, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, volumes of the Journals of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, the Asiatic Researcher, are some notable collections in the Raj library", says the LNMU's website.

Incidentally, last November, INTACH's Darbhanga Chapterwas opened in the city that is dotted with the legacy of the Darbhanga Raj, who contributed to building of many educationaland socio-cultural institutions.

A professor of the LNMU is the convener for the citychapter.

The university is located close to the iconic LaxmivilasPalace or Anand Bagh Palace, built in 1890s. It now houses the Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University (KSDSU).

Read more: Bihar: 8 killed, 11 injured after bus catches fire in Nalanda

"Initially, we will work within LNMU but, eventually the idea is to involve KSDSU as well, as it too has inherited arich legacy of the Darbhanga Raj. The ornate Darbar Hall, itsmagnificent building and old iron gates are its wealthypossession, and it would make sense for both the universitiesto work together on preservation," Singh added.

"During a meeting of all the VCs of Bihar universitieswith the governor (who is their chancellor) at Raj Bhawanearlier this month, we had put up the proposal of the heritagecell, and it was appreciated," he said.

Beginning its journey as Mithila University, it functioned for the first few years from the Mohanpur House in the district, and in 1975 shifted to its present campus. After the death of former railway minister Lalit Narayan Mishra, his name was added to the university, spread over an area of nearly 230 acres.

Darbhanga is situated in the historic Mithila region andis home to several landmarks, many of which were rebuilt afterthe 1934 earthquake.
Other prominent heritage buildings in the city includethe Zilla School, Zilla Hospital, Bela Palace, now housing thePostal Training College and the Lakshmiswar Public Library.