UTTAR PRADESH

Aligarh

Maulana Azad Library

Aligarh Muslim University

Aligarh, 202002 U.P.

Website URL http://www.amu.ac.in/library.htm

 

Introduction: The library was established with the personal collection of Sayyid Ahmad Khan, the university’s founder in 1877.  The present building dates from 1960.  See the introduction by Noorul Hasan Khan, “Maulana Azad Library,”pp. 205-208, in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers in India, edited by B.M. Gupta, (Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, vol. 9, 1991). Another introduction is found in Muhammad Abd al-Shahid Khan, “Mawlana Azad Library,” Burhan (Delhi) (October 1973): 41-72; and Burhan (Delhi): November 1973: 60-61.  The library is divided into many major collections named after the donors.

Catalog (s): Fihris al-Makhtutat al-Arabiyyah bi-Jamiat al-islamiyyah Aligarh, edited by Muhmmad Mazharuddin Siddiqi, (London: al-Furqan Foundation, 2002)

Fihrist-i Subhan Allah Oriental Library Muslim University Aligarh nusakh qalami Arabi, Farsi, wa Urdu, edited by Iman Kamil Husayn, 2 vols. (Aligarh, 1931-1932)

Sayyid Shams Allah Qadiri, Yadasht-iMakhtutat-i tarikhi, (Hyderabad: Ahmadiya Press, 1939, Karachi: Wahid Book Depot, 1967). On Habibganj, Subhan Allah and Sayyid Ahmad Khan collections in the AMU Library.

Fihrist-i numaish gah-mukhtutat wa nawadir, edited by Mukhtar al-Din Ahmad, (Aligarh, 1953)

Mukhtar al-Din Ahmad “Fihrist-i makhtutat-i Arabi, Farsi, wa Urdu, zakhirah-i Ahsan Marahrawi Lytton Library,” Oriental College Magazine 32, I (1955): 25-26.

“Qaiymat makhtutat fi Aligarh,” Sahifat al-Maktabah al-Amir al-Muminin al-Aammah, Najaf (1964): 45-50

Catalogue of the Manuscripts added to the Maulana Azad Library, 1970-1972, edited

by M.H. Razvi and S.A.K. Ghori, (Aligarh, 1973)

Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Maulana Azad Library during 1970-1977, pt 1. Persian manuscripts, edited by M.H. Razvi and M.H. Qaisar Amrohawi, (Aligarh, 1980).

Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Maulana Azad Library,   2vols.(Aligarh, 1981-1985). In two volumes, the following collections have been covered: Aftab, Habibgunj, Shifta, and  Islamic sciences, history, biography.

Hans Daiber, “New Manuscript Findings from Indian Libraries,” Manuscripts of the Middle East 1 (1986), pp. 26-48; 

Fihrist-i mikrufilm-i nuskhah’ha-yi khatti-i Farsi wa Arabi Danishgah-i Aligarh, (New Delhi: Markaz-i Mikufilm-i Nur, 2000)

Mirat al-tassawuf, edited by S.M.H. Razvi and M.H. Qaisar Amrohawi, (Aligarh, 1985)

Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Nizami Collection at the Maulana Azad Library, compiled by Jalal Abbas Abbasi, (Delhi: Idarah-i Adabiyat-i Dellli, 2001)

Works on the history or individual manuscripts in the library:

On the Habibganj collection see the series of article by its owner, Nawab Sadr Yar Jang, Urfi Shirazi ke Farsi ke Do Nayab Diwan,” Maarif (Azamgarh): (November 1922): 345-56; “Habibganj ka Kutub Khanah Kis Tarah Jamaa Huwa?” Maarif (Azamgarh) (October 1931): 295-300; “Kutub Khanah-yi Habibganj ki Fihrist ka Goshwara,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (September 1932): 210-212; “Shahi Kutub Khanon Ki Kitaben Habibganj main,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (August 1937): 96-109; Ruba’iyat-i Sihabi Najafi ka Qalami Nuskhah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (January 1941): 16-23. 

Articles by others include, “ Abd al-Ghafur, “Kutub Khanah-yi Habibganj ke Fan-i Tarikh ke Chand Nawadir,” Maarif  (Azamgarh) (June 1937): 445-450;“M.A.M.” “The Treasure of the Habibgunj Library, Islamic Culture 15 (1942): 465-497; Sayyid Badr al-Din Alawi, “Kutub Khanah-yi Habibganj,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (December 1948): 461-68;  Ishrat Ali Qureshi, The Maulana Azad Library…1877-1988, (Aligarh: Anwar Publishing House, 1989).

Other Collections: Abd al-Hamid Khan, “Kitab Khanah-yi Academy of Islamic Research, All India Muslim Educational Conference, Kitab Khanah-yi Sultan Jahan Manzil, Aligarh,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (October 1946): 276-293.  The Jawahar Museum of Etawah manuscripts  were  donated to the Azad Library, see  Tadhkirah-yi Jawahar Zawahar, edited by Muhammad Abrar Husayn Faruqi, (Etawah: Jawahar Museum, 1959); Riyazurrahman Khan Sherwani, “Khatib Baghdadi au ke Baad Makhtutat,” Maarif (November 1988): 374-81; Maarif (Azamgarh) (December 1978): 437-43; copies of some of Baghdadi’s manuscripts are also available in AP State Oriental Manuscripts Library in Hyderabad according to this author. Muhammad Nazir Ahmad, “Farsi ke Char Nayab Tazkire,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (July 1957): 24-38, includes Sham-i Ghariban by Laxmi Narayan Shafiq Awrangabadi.

 

 

Hakim Sayyid Zill al-Rahman Library

Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences

Tijara House, Dodhpur

Aligarh, UP 202002

http://www.medbeats.com/iamms

 

Introduction: Founded on 1 March 2000, formally inaugurated on 20 April 2001. It is established by Professor Hakim Sayyid Zillur Rahman of Aligarh Muslim University.

Number of Manuscripts: 400

Catalog (s): Fihrist-i mikurfilm nuskhah-ha-yi Farsi wa Arabi kitab khanah-yi Hakim Sayyid Zill al-Rahman, edited by Mahdi Khawajah piri, (New Delhi: Noor Microfilms, 2001)

 

ALLAHABAD

 

Uttar Pradesh State Regional Archives Library

53 Mahatma Gandhi Road

Allahabad 211011

 

Introduction: Like archives in other states, this is a depository of state papers, but also contains some manuscripts.  See the introduction by S.N. Sinha, “UP State Archives,” pp. 398-415,  in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers in India, edited by B.M. Gupta, (New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, 1991)

Catalog (s): An Alphabetical Index of Persian, Arabic and  Urdu Mss in the Uttar Pradesh State Archives, edited by Jalaluddin & L.K. Nagar, (Allahabad: State Archives of Uttar Pradesh, 1968).

 

Allahabad Museum

Motilal Nehru Park

Kamala Nehru Road

Allahabad 211002

 

Catalog (s): Catalogue of the Reference Library of the Provincial Museum, (Allahabad, 1892), edited by G.D. Ganguli.  Appendix II of the catalogue has a “Classified List of the Arabic, Persian and Urdu Manuscripts, edited by M. Chhotilal.

Other Collections: A number of other institutions in Allahabad such as Ganganath Jha Research Institute, Allahabad University, and Daira Shah Ajmal seem to have Arabic script manuscripts, see David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990), p.72-73.

 

Allahabad University Library

Allahabad

 

Introduction: According to Prof. Naimurrahman Farooqi of the History Department at the Universtiy, there are approximately 200 manuscripts mostly in Persain.

 

AZAMGARH

Dar al-Musannifin

Shibli Academy

P.O. Box 19

Azamgarh, U.P. 276001

 

Introduction: The Shibli Academy Library was established on 21 November 1914, three days after the death of Maulana Shibli Numani, a leading scholar.  It moved to the present premises in 1927. See the introduction by Abd al-Majid Nadwi, “Nawadirat wa Makhtutat-i Dar al-Musannifin Azamgarh,” Burhan (Delhi) (October 1969): 46-53

Number of manuscripts: 520 (192 Arabic, 318 Persian, 10 Urdu), according to World Survey, p. 428. See Maarif # 102, p. 373.

Works on the history or individual manuscripts in the library:

Abd al-Majid Nadwi, “Masnawi Futuh al-Haramayn ka ek Qadim Qalami Nuskhah,” Burhan (Delhi) (January 1969): 54-64; Diya al-Din Islahi, “Kutub Khanah-yi Dar al-Musannifin ka ek Makhtutath,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (September 1995): 215-230;  Sayyid Yahya Nishat, “Dar al-Musannifin ke Urdu Makhtutat,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (May 1996): 377-395.

 

DEOBAND

Dar al-Ulum Library

Deoband 247554

 

Introduction: The Dar al-Ulum was established in 1866.

Catalog (s): Taaruf-i makhtutat-i Kutubkhanah’I Dar al-Ulum, edited by Muhammad Zafir al-Din, (Deoband: Dar al-Ulum,  2 vols., 1969-1972.

 

Hardoi

 

M. Ansari, “Gopamau Collection of Persian, Arabic, and Urdu Manuscripts,” Indian History Congress Proceedings 32, ii, (1970): 430-434.

 

 

LUCKNOW

 

General: As the seat of the Lucknow nawabs who ruled the Avadh region between 1727-1856, many collections came into being, most notably the ruler’s own.  It was edited by the Austrian scholar, Aloys Sprenger, 1813-1893.  See Catalogue of the Arabic, Persian and Hindustani Manuscripts of the Libraries of the King of Oudh, (Calcutta, 1854, reprinted 1979).  It is probably the first catalogue of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu manuscripts published in India.  The collection was moved to Calcutta when in 1856, the ruler Wajid Ali Shah was exiled to Calcutta.  See the following works of Sprenger, Report on the Researches into the Muhammadan Libraries, (Calcutta, 1896); and “Uder eine Handschrift des ersten Bandes des Kitab Tabaqat al-Tabaqat al-Kabyr vom Sekreta des Waqidy,” Zeitschrift der Deutsche Morgenlaneschen Gesellschaft 3 (1849): 450-56. An Urdu translation is entitled Shahan-i Awadh ke Kutub Khaneh, is by Muhammad Ikram Chaghatai, (Karachi: Anjuman-i Taraqqi-i Urdu, 1973). On Sprenger himself, see Austrian Scholarship in Pakistan: A Symposium Dedicated to the Memory of Aloys Sprenger, (Islamabad: Austrian Embassy, 1997).

For accounts of Lucknow libraries see, Said Nafisi, “Nuskhah-ha-yi khatti-i kitab-ha-yi Farsi wa Arabi dar Lucknow,” Namah-i Tamaddun 2 (1931): 11-16; Muhammad Hadi al-Amini, “Makhtutat Lucknow,” Sahifat al-Maktabah al-imam al-Amir al-Muminin 2 (1964): 17-36; Shah Abd al-Salam, “Awadh ke Kutub Khaneh: Mazi aur Hal,” Rampur Raza Library Journal 8-9 (2001-2002): 303-308. Private collections include those of Indian Air Force Wing Commander R.R. Kidwai’s collection at his home 2/3 23 New Hyderabad, Lucknow) as cited in Khuda Bakhsh Library Journal 49 (1989): 91-94. The private collection of Sayyid Taqi of Lucknow is described by Muhammad Salim Qidwai in his article, “Shaykh Mubarak ki Tafsir ka Qalami Nuskhah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (February 1976): 152-59; Near Lucknow is the district Hardoi, where there is/was the Library of the Muftis of Gopamau, also known as the Wala Jah Museum and Library, named after see India History Congress Proceedings 32, 11 (1970): 430-434; and Malik Ram, “Rumuz-i Kutub Khanah-yi Muftiyan-i Gopamau,” Khuda Bakhsh Library Journal 51-52 (1989): 553-579, and a rejoinder by Malik Ram in the same journal’s page 580. In Saray Mir’s Madrasah-yi Islah’s central library is located a small collection of manuscripts, see Sarfaraz Ahmad, “Kifayat al-Muntaha: ek Nadir wa Nayab Makhtutah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (October 1989): 301-306; and Riyazuddin Ahmad Khan, “Chhar Gulshan: Tarikh-i Hind ka ek Makhtutah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (September 1990): 217-225.

 

Amir al-Dawlah Government Public Library

Qaysar Bagh

Lucknow 226001

 

Introduction: It was built in 1921. See the introduction by Shah Abd al-Salam, “Amir al-Dawlah Public Library: Ek Taaruf,” Rampur Raza Library Journal 6-7 (2001-2002): 294-297.

Catalog (s): Fihrist-i Makhtutat-i Amir ad-Dawlah Public Library, edited by Muhammad Shafiq Muradabadi & Nusrat Nahid, Delhi, 2000, and H ans Daiber, “New Manuscript Findings from Indian Libraries,” Manuscripts of the Middle East 1 (1986), pp. 26-48.

Works about the history or individual manuscripts in the library: 

Muhammad Harun al-Nadawi, “Fihrist al-makhtutat al-Arabiya fi al-Maktabah al-Aamma bi-Madinah Lucknow al-Hindiyya,” Akhbar al-Turath al-Arabi 11 (Kanun-al-Thani-Shubbat 1984):20; David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990), p.79-80.

 

Kutubkhanah-yi Nasiriya

Nadan Mahal Road

Shastri Nagar

Lucknow 226003

Number of Manuscripts: 30,000

Muhammad Harun al-Nadwi, “Maktabah Nasiriya”,  Sahifat al-Maktabah al-imam al-Amir al-Muminin 2 (1964): 14-26.

Hans Daiber, “New Manuscript Findings from Indian Libraries,” Manuscripts of the Middle East 1 (1986), pp. 26-48.

 

Madrasat al-Waizin

16 Canning Street

Lucknow 226003

 

Introduction: It is the seminary that trains Shia preachers founded in 1919 by the Raja of Mahmudabad.

Number of Manuscripts: 529

Works on the history or individual manuscripts:

David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990), p.79-80.

 

Nadwat al-Ulama Library

P.O. Box 93

Lucknow 226007

 

Introduction: Nadwat al-Ulama is a leading Islamic seminary founded in 1884, it celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 1984.  An introduction is by Mohamed Taher, “Madrasa Libraries in India: A Case Study of Nadwat al-Ulama, Lucknow,” pp. 112-127, in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers in India, vol. 9, edited by B.M. Gupta, (New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, 1991)

Catalog (s): Fihrist-i nuskhah’ha-yi khatti-i Arabi-i kitabkhanah-i Nadwat al-Ulama, edited by Sayyid Ahmad Husayni, (New Delhi:Markaz-i Tahqiqat-i Farsi, 2 vols., 185-1986).

Hans Daiber, “New Manuscript Findings from Indian Libraries,” Manuscripts of the Middle East 1 (1986), pp. 26-48.

David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990): 81.

“Al-makhtutat al-Arabiyya fi maktabat Nadwat al-Ulama,” al-Mawsim 2 (1990): 268-284.

 

Raja of Mahmudabad Library

Mahmudabad House

Qaysar Bagh

Lucknow 226001

 

Introduction: This collection belongs to the former noblemen of the Raja of Mahmudabad family.

 

Catalog (s): Fihrist-i nuskhah’ha-yi khatti-i kitabkhanah-i rajah-i Mahmudabad, edited by Mahdi Khawajah Piri, (Delhi: Markaz-i Tahqiqat-i Farsi, Rayzani Farhangi-i Sifarat-Jumhuri-i Islami, Iran, 1990)

Works on the history or individual manuscripts:

David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990), p.79.

 

 

Sultan al-Madaris

Lucknow 226003

 

Introduction: This is another Shia religious seminary. An introduction is found in Mirza Jaafar Husayn’s Qadim Lakhnow ki Akhiri Bahar, (New Delhi: Tarraqi Urdu Bureau, 1981), pp. 232-237.

Works on the history or individual manuscripts:

David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990), p.79-80.

 

 

Tagore Library

University of Lucknow

Lucknow 226007

Website URL http://members.tripod.com/~TagoreLibrary/

 

Introduction: The University started out as Canning College.  Its library is named after the Bengali poet Rabindranatha Tagore.

Number of manuscripts: 170

Catalog (s): Catalogue of Oriental Manuscripts in the Lucknow University Library, edited by Kali Prasad, (Lucknow: Ram Kumar Press, 1951)

Works on the history or individual manuscripts:

David Pinault, “An Investigation of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Selected Indian Libraries,” Hamdard Islamicus 13, 2 (Summer 1990), p.79.

 

RAMPUR

Rampur Raza Library

Hamid Manzil

Rampur 244901

http://www.razalibrary.com

 

Introduction: The library was founded in the late 18th century by the Nawab Fayz Allah Khan.  A formal introduction is by H.R. Sood, “Rampur Raza Library,” pp. 95-97,  in Handbook of Libraries, Archives and Information Centers in India, Vol. 9, edited by B.M. Gupta, (New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, 1991). Earlier introductions include, Qazi Ahmad Miyan Akhtar Jungarhi, “Kutub Khanah-yi Rampur,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (March 1929): 192-204; Sayyid Hashim Nadwi, “Rampur aur Lucknow ke Mashriqi Kutub Khanon ke Sayr aur Us ki Rudad,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (October 1929): 253-271. Mahdi Khwajapiri, “Kitab Khanah-i Raza Rampur,” Journal of Arabic and Persian Research Institute 8 (1989-90): 88-98.

Number of manuscripts: 11, 993

Catalog (s): Fihrist-i kutub-i Arabi-i mawjudah-i Kutubkhanah-riyasat-i Rampur, edited by Muhammad Ajmal Khan, 2 vols., (Rampur: Ahmadi Press, 1902-1928)

Catalogue of Arabic Manuscripts in Raza Library, edited by Imtiyaz Ali Kahn Arshi, 6 vols., (Rampur: The Library, 1963-1977), a review of some of the volumes is in the Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 29, 3 (1966): 669-670; and the same journal’s volume 30, 2 (1966), p. 446.

Hans Daiber, “New Manuscript Findings from Indian Libraries,” Manuscripts of the Middle East 1 (1986), pp. 26-48.

Fihrist-i nuskhah’ha-yi khatti-i Farsi-i Kitabkhanah’I Raza Rampur, (Rampur: The Library, 1996).

Works on the history or individual manuscripts in the library:

Hakim Muhammad Husayn Khan Shifa, Makhtutat-i Rampur,” Journal of Arabic and Persian Institute 2, 1 (1982-83): 1-16; W.H. Siddiqi, Rampur Raza Library: Monograph, (Rampur: The Library, 1998); Raza Library ki ilmi Wirasat, edited by Sayyid Hasan Abbas, (Rampur: The Library, 1996);

Raza Library Journal: Hindustan men ulum-i mashriqiya ki raftar-i tarraqi ka tarjuman, published since 1989. For an obituary of the library’s best known director see “Mawlana Imtiyaz Ali Khan Arshi,” Hamdard Islamicus 4, 2 (Summer 1987): 101-103. A festschrift presented to him entitled Nadhr-i Arshi was edited by Malik Ram and published in 1965.

On individual manuscripts see, Qazi Ahmad Miyan Akhtar Junagarhi, “ Diwan-i Nizami ke Qalami Nuskheh, “ Maarif (Azamgarh) (January 1929):  53-56; Sadr Yar Jang, “Sahih Muslim ke ek Qalami Nuskhah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (March 1929): 192-204; Imtiyaz Ali Khan Arshi, “Umar Khayyam ka ek Nadir Nuskhah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (October 1930): 264-276 and  Maarif (December 1930): 440-441; Hakim Muhammad Husayn Khan Shifa, “Kutub Khanah-yi Rampur ka ek Mualijati Qalami Tazkirah,” Maarif (Azamgarh) (June 1983): 442-456.

Present Conditions: “Murad Miyan Vistits Raza Library,” The Milli Gazette (16-31 August 2004), p. 19Jahanara Habibullah, “Raza Library, Rampur,” pp. 42-44, in her Glimpses of a Princely State Rampur During the Raj, translated by Tahira Naqvi, (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2001), in this book the authors claims that the collection of the Nawab of Loharu was also added to the Raza Library; “Rudderless Raza Library,” Milli Gazette 1-15 October 2000, p. 9, on the vacancy of the library director.  The Library is presently (Summer 2003) headed by a Officer on Special Duty (OSD) appointed by the U.P. Governor; “Rampur Raza Library: Recent Developments,” The Hindustan Times 4 October 1998, as reproduced in Muslim India 191 (November 1998), p. 520; Purnima Sharma, “The Rampur Raza Library: A Priceless Collection,” The Hindustan Times 11 November 1994, as reproduced in Muslim India 147 (March 1995): 128; Riza Ali Abidi, Kutub Khanah, (Karachi: Saad Publications, 1985), pp.48-54; “Government Announces Inquiry into Alleged Loss of Manuscripts from Reza Library, “ Muslim India (April 1984), p. 189; Fatimeh Razaqui, “A Ruinous Threat to the Treasures of Raza,” Arabia (January 1984): 72-73; Paul Sprachman, “Photographing Islamic Manuscripts in India,” South Asia Library Notes and Queries  14 (November 1982): 6-7; S.M. Imamuddin, “A Visit to the Rampur State Library,” Islamic Culture 21 (1947): 360-368; Said Nafisi, “ Kitab-ha-yi muhim dar kitabkhanah-i Riyasat-i Rampur, Payam-i Nau 9 (1951): 49-62; Sahifah al-Maktabah al-imam al-Amir al-Muminin al-Ammah 2 (1964):56-61.

 

Saulat Public Library

Rampur, U.P. 244901

 

Introduction:  The library was founded by Sawlat Ali Khan, a bibliophile and politician (1894-1969) in 1934. An introduction to the library is  by Sayyid Nadhr al-Hasan Qadiri, Sawlat Public Library ke Pachas Baras, (Rampur: The Library, 1992)

Catalog (s): Catalogue of Persian and Arabic Manuscripts of Saulat Public Library, edited by Abid Riza Bedar, (Rampur, 1966).

 

VARANASI

Bharat Kala Bhavan

Varanasi  221005

 

Introduction: This is one of the riches museums in India located on the Hindu University campus. It contains some exquisite illustrated manuscripts such as the Hamza Namah

 

Banaras Hindu University Library

Varanasi 221005

 

Introduction: The library was established in 1918, and moved to the present building in 1932.

Number of manuscripts: 1, 111 (134 Arabic, 936 Persian, some Turkish, 140 Urdu)

Catalog (s): A Descriptive Catalogue of Persian Manuscripts in the Benaras Hindu University, edited by Amrit Lal Ishrat, (Varanasi: Benaras Hindu University Press, 1965)