Reconsider relocating library, find suitable alternative for Tamil studies centre: Lok Sabha MP to JNU VC

NEW DELHI: Considering the recent news of the relocation of the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) Centre for Historical Studies (CHS) library and also the establishment of a new Special Centre for Tamil Studies, member of Parliament for Villupuram constituency, Tamil Nadu D Ravikumar has requested the Vice-Chancellor of the university to reconsider relocating the library and find a suitable alternative for the Tamil studies centre.

Saying that such a move has generated negative sentiments among students, educators and historians in relation to the Centre for Tamil Studies in a letter dated August 8, the Lok Sabha member requested JNU VC saying her to heed the concerns of historians, academics and scholars, reconsider relocating the library, and find a suitable alternative for the Special Centre for Tamil Studies.

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“Given your heritage as the daughter of a Tamil Scholar, I trust you can empathize with these sentiments. I also request prompt action in identifying an appropriate location for the Special Centre for Tamil Studies,” the Lok Sabha MP added.

Recalling how Ravikumar and their leader Thol Thirumavalavan requested the Vice-Chancellor to create a Tamil Department at JNU, engaged with Tamil development minister of Tamil Nadu Thangam Thennarasu and facilitated government grant of Rs 10 crore, he also appreciated the efforts of the university and the Vice-Chancellor in establishing the Special Centre for Tamil Studies.

Regarding the recent news of relocating the CHS library for the new Special Centre for Tamil Studies, the MP added, it is important to remember that facilities funded by the public for a specific purpose should not be repurposed without due consideration.

The UGC's Departmental Special Assistance Programme (DSA), initiated in the 1980s, awarded funds to excellent departments. CHS successfully secured this grant through a rigorous evaluation process that took into account faculty publications, student research, and teaching, he added.

“The grant was predominantly utilized to develop and expand the library, an essential resource for any reputable institution,” the Lok Sabha MP said.

Adding that the library houses a vast collection of books and rare documents, many of which are no longer in print or available elsewhere and numerous contributions have come from esteemed scholars like Bernard Cohn, Satish Chandra, and DD Kosambi, Ravikumar said that disposing of these private collections would be “a great loss to the institute”