Rampur Raza Library is one of the world’s magnificent and unparalleled repository of cultural heritage. It is a treasure-house of knowledge built up by successive Nawabs of Rampur State. It contains very rare and valuable collection of manuscripts, historical documents, specimens of Islamic calligraphy, miniature paintings, astronomical instruments and rare illustrated works in Arabic and Persian languages besides 60,000 printed books. (For detailed account see the portal of Rampur Raza Library) http://razalibrary.gov.in/origin.html
History
The first Nawab of the Rampur State, Nawab Faizullah Khan envisioned this Repository of Cultural Heritage in Rampur. It was the last decades of the 18the Centurry. He collected here his personal collection of manuscripts, miniatures specimens of Islamic calligraphy. Earlier, the collection was in Toshakhana of his Palace. As all the Nawabs were the great patrons of scholars, poets, painters, calligraphers and musicians, the library got special attention on their part. Nawab Ahmad Ali Khan contributed significantly to thsi cultural institution of the national importance. The Rampur Raza Library flourished during the following rulers of the Rampur State as well.
Nawab Muhammad Said Khan (1840–1855) created a separate department for Rampur Raza Library and shifted the collection to new rooms. He engaged Agha Yusuf Ali Maulavi, an Afghan Scholar, to organize the collection into a Library. The Nawab invited well known calligraphers, illuminators and binders from Kashmir and other parts of India. The Nawab also got a seal with the following Persian inscription: “Hast in muhr bar Kutub Khana : Waali-i-Rampur farzana.” It means “This is the seal of the Library : by the wise ruler (Nawab) of Rampur.”
Nawab Yousuf Ali Khan Nazim succeeded his father and was crowned on 1 April 1855. The Nawab was himself a poet of Urdu and took guidance from the celebrated poet Mirza Ghalib. The Nawab’s Diwan (collection of verses) written in gold is preserved in this Cultural Heritage. After the first struggle of India’s freedom during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, a large number of eminent poets, writers and scholars settled in Rampur.
Nawab Kalb Ali Khan (1865–1887) evinced keen interest in the collection of rare manuscripts, paintings and specimens of Islamic calligraphy in Rampur Raza Library. He was himself an eminent scholar and poet. He commissioned scholars to secure rare manuscripts, paintings and art pieces of the Mughal and Awadh Libraries. The Nawab also performed a Hajj pilgrimage and brought a good number of rare manuscripts, including the unique parchment manuscript of Quran attributed to Ali (d 661) of the 7th century AD.
Nawab Mushtaq Ali Khan(1887–1889) was permanently sick. General Azamuddin Khan was appointed the Regent to look after the affairs of the State in 1887. He constituted a managing committee and allotted a budget for the upkeep and development of the library. A new building was also constructed where the Library collection was shifted from Tosha Khana in 1892. He also extended facilities to senior academicians and research scholars from other parts of the country.
Nawab Hamid Ali Khan (1889–1930) visited several countries before ascending to the throne. He was highly educated and a prolific builder and built impressive palaces, castle ramparts, and state building in Rampur city. He also built a splendid mansion of Indo-European style named Hamid Manzil inside the fort in 1904. The Raza Library was later shifted to this magnificent building in 1957. Nawab Hamid Ali Khan added new items to the valuable collection and enforced certain reforms in the management of the library. During his time, Hakim Ajmal Khan, Maulana Najmul Ghani Khan and Hafiz Ahmad Ali Khan ‘Shauq’ managed the Library.
Raza Ali Khan of Rampur ascended the throne on 21 June 1930. He had his education in India and abroad. He showed a very progressive bent from his early age and introduced modern education in schools and colleges. He also invited educationists of repute to organize these academic institutions. Besides he was a great lover of Indian music for which he purchased several rare manuscripts and books on the subject. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raza_Library
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