Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Urdu Reseach Center: A Rare Library

The Urdu Research Center, Hyderabad, is a rare and finest collection of early Urdu periodicals and printed books.

The Centre was founded by Abdus Samad Khan. Mr. Khan was a mechanic by profession. His formal education is only limited to high school. But, since childhood, he was passionate about collecting books; and this ardor let to one of the finest collection of Urdu books, periodicals, etc.

The University of Chicago recognized and acquired his collection. The University based Urdu Research Library Consortium program is involved in preserving his books. All the materials acquired by Abdus Samad Khan over nearly 40 years were purchased by the Urdu Research Library Consortium in 1996, and moved to the Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, in Hyderabad.

The following link has the interview that Mr. Khan gave to BBC Radio, in 1975:
http://dsal.uchicago.edu/bibliographic/urlc/urc.html.

You can read more about the library at:
http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1720/17201180.htm.

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