রবীন্দ্র দৃষ্টিতে গ্রন্থাগার : একটি পর্যালোচনা / The Library in Rabindranath’s eyes: A Review

Abstract

In this paper present an overview of Rabindranath Tagore’s perspective on libraries and their social, educational, and cultural significance. The discussion begins by outlining the foundational elements of his library philosophy, his belief in the holistic development of individuals through knowledge, cultural refinement, and social upliftment. Tagore viewed the library not merely as a repository of books but as a dynamic humanistic institution dedicated to nurturing learning, creativity, and community consciousness. Within the educational frameworks of Santiniketan and Sriniketan, he positioned the library as a centre for exploratory learning, self-directed study, and creative expression. The elaborates on Tagore’s innovative initiative, the ‘Chalantika’ mobile library, which carried books to rural communities and ensured access to knowledge for all. This pioneering model demonstrated his commitment to taking knowledge to the doorsteps of common people, aligning closely with modern library science concepts such as outreach services, user-centred services, and information democracy. Overall, provides a comprehensive account of the humanistic, educational, and social dimensions of the library as envisioned by Rabindranath Tagore.