Preserving Urdu Heritage: A Journey Through Bengaluru’s Muslim Library

Nabeel Ahmad  | 1 August 2024 

A hundred-year-old Muslim library stands firm in the narrow lanes of Shivajinagar, Bangalore, barely visible from the outside and quite difficult to locate. By asking the locals, one can find a small staircase squeezed between shops leading to the library. You can easily detect the smell of old books on the staircase, and upon entering the library, a sudden sense of calm and peace permeates the bustling market. There have been many highs and lows throughout the library’s long and illustrious history, and in 2014, it celebrated its centenary.