The Centre’s move to bring all public libraries in the nation under its control is a part of its plan to implement the Hindutva agenda, says a statement issued by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretariat here.
The move is part of a conspiracy to take over public libraries and fill it with the books brought out by the publication wing of the Sangh parivar. It is also an organised attempt to keep scientific temper and progressive thoughts away from libraries, it alleges .
The announcement that public libraries are to be brought under Central control came during the Festival of Libraries organised by the Union Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
What is being contemplated is bringing public libraries, which come under the State-controlled entities according to the 7th Schedule of the Constitution, under the concurrent list.
The CPI(M) statement says once the Central government starts interfering in the affairs of public libraries, the regional decision-making rights of the State and the libraries will disappear. Once the autonomy is lost, there will be continuous impingement on what books should be read and how it should be read. The regional context and requirements will soon be lost and libraries will become a vehicle and instrument for the Centre’s propaganda and imagination, CPI(M) fears.
Libraries have played a crucial role in the socio-political and cultural renaissance in Kerala. Libraries have functioned as cultural centres in Kerala, which was the first State in the country to set up a public library in 1829 in Thiruvananthapuram.
This story was originally published in thehindu.com. Read the full story here
