By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Rilbong- based Netaji Pathagar celebrated its 66th Foundation Day on Saturday in the premises of Rilbong Community Hall with an aim of highlighting the importance of books and public libraries as the function was attended by young and old alike.
While appreciating the efforts of the founding fathers of the Library and also the present lot, Manas Chaudhuri, MLA however said that today the present generation is not attracted to Library and it is a matter of concern. “We have to learn the new things, such as, the needs of the younger generation so that the Library can run with time,” he said adding that he will give his full support.
Netaji Pathagar was started on April 30, 1947 by few young minds of the locality to do something good for the society.
The Library was dedicated to the legendary freedom fighter and leader of the Indian National Army, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Netaji Pathagar has since then been serving the people of Shillong.
Stressing on the importance to uphold the legacy that was started by few young minds of the independence era under the leadership of late Satyabrata Sen, the Secretary of the Library, Tushar Kanti Bhattacharjee took the audience down memory lane to the days of the freedom struggle.
A founding member of the Library, he revisited his childhood and recollected anecdotes of how the inspiring personality and charisma of Netaji made them start the Library.
He concluded by saying that there is no alternative to books and it is the duty of the people to see that the Library doesn’t die in the face of modern technology.
The evening was also marked by a cultural function where children from the locality performed songs and dances and made the event a memorable one. Sneha Ghosh made the packed house spellbound with her rendition on Bharat Natyam dance routine whereas the students of Gandharva Music Club enthralled the audience with their songs.
The Library has been uninterruptedly serving the people of the locality and other parts of the city since 1947.
Currently the Library has more than 25000 books and journals on varied subjects in many languages – from fiction to non-fiction, education and research papers, the Library is the proud custodian of some rare collections, too.
One of the highlights of the Library is the old newspapers dating from 1937 that was generously donated by a philanthropist, few years back.