History
The Library has been named after the Late Rabindra Kumar Mitra, elder son of the Late Nirupama Devi and Late Narendra Kumar Mitra. Rabindra Kumar died an accidental and premature death on 15th of January 1949. He, at the time of his death, was a student of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha. He was a person of varied interests of art, painting, writing, acting, reading , sports and various social activities. When he lived in his village he had then opened a small Library the “Mitra Library” with the help of his friends. He was always keen to open a public Library in the city of Cuttack, (the then Capital of Odisha) and the said desire remained unfulfilled due to his untimely demise. His premature death came as a shock to his family and friends and they were broken hearted.
After his demise, his younger sister Ila Mitra and her bosom friend Prity Gupta discussed and debated the possibility of opening a Library in remembrance of their beloved elder brother. They were ably supported by their brother’s friend Dr.Haridas Gupta and Sri Satya Narayan Gupta. They decided to fulfill Rabindra Kumar’s dreams. They put forth their project to the Father of Late Rabindra Kumar, who immediately agreed and built a room of 300 sq.ft. and provided it with Almirah, Furniture and electricity. The Library was born on the 17th of April 1949 and is still operating.
The Library started with paltry no of 150 books gifted by the Founder Members viz. Smt.Ila Gupta, Smt.Prity Mallik, Dr.Haridas Gupta and Sri Satya Narayan Gupta and a few books of dear Founder. On the very first day four Founder Members were enrolled as Members. Gradually the member list grew. In the 50’s the membership peaked to 150 and later in the 60’s there was an overwhelming response and it reached to 300.
At very inception the Library’s Caution Money was Rs.2/=(Rupees Two only) and the Monthly Subscription was 8 (Eight) annas .
From the establishment of the Library till the year of Silver Jubilee i.e. 1973-74, the Chief Patron, Late Narendra Kumar Mitra organized charity shows once every year in his Theatre M/s Capital Talkies, Cuttack. The total sale of the show was donated for the developmental purpose and also to organize the Annual Day Celebration of the Library.
The Library has dutifully observed and organized Saraswati Puja and the Annual Day Celebration from the day of its inception. For this two occasions we always received tremendous response, active support, patronage, cooperation and healthy participation not only from our subscribing members but also from the general public and well wishers from inside and outside the state to accomplish the said occasion a great success.
The 1st Annual Day Celebration was held on the 17th day of April’1950 and the Chief Guest was the Late Lalit Kumar Dasgupta, eminent educationist and the senior Advocate of Honb’le High Court, Odisha. He suggested to hold Essay, Debate and Recitation Competition amongst the Students for development of their literary aspects. He also sponsored the event for 4 to 5 years.
On each Anniversary Day Celebration of the Library was chaired by the Eminent Litterateur and renowned personnel of our State. Some of them are Pandit Lingaraj Mishra, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Pandit Godabarish Mishra, Padmashree Sachidananda Routray, Dr.Radhanath Rath, Sj.Gouri Kumar Brahma, Sj.Kalindi Charan Panigrahi, Sj.Radhamohan Gadanayak, Sj.Kanhu Charan Mohanty, Sj.Kunja Behari Das of yesteryears and thereafter Sj.Tattwakandar Mishra, Sj. Pathani Pattnaik, Sj.Hrudananda Ray, Sj.Bibhuti Pattnaik, Sj.Kishori Charan Das, Sj.Annada Prasad Ray, Dr.Bijayananda Singh, Dr.Ratnakar Chaini, Justice A.S.Naidu and in the financial year 2015-16, was adorned by the eminent writer Bijayini Das as the Chief Guest and Sj.Surya Prasad Misra, the Advocate General of Odisha as the Guest of Honor ( see the year wise Chief Guest’s list in the Function & Celebration group ). The Library has received many valuable suggestions and opinions from Guests and visitors.
During the past decades from 1950 onwards, famous and renowned singing sensations of our state and West Bengal have enthralled the audiences on the Annual Day celebration. To name a few singing sensations as Sj,Akhil Bandhu Ghosh, Sj.Manabendra Mukherjee, Sj. Tarun Bandopadhyay, Sj.Dwijen Mukherjee, Smt.Lalita Dharchoudhury, Smt.Haimanti Sukla and the famous Music Director,Dr.Nachiketa Ghose and the local giants like Sj.Biswanath Rao, Sj.Balakrushna Das, Sj.Bhubaneswar Mishra, Sj.Akshaya Mohanty, Sj.Raghunath Panigrahi, Sj.Pranab Kishore Pattnaik, Sj.Sikandar Alam, Smt.Shyamamani Devi, Smt.Indira Ray, Sj.Rakhal Mohanty, Sj.Sekhar Ghose and many others participated to their full glory giving maximum pleasure and enjoyment to the audiences. The Old timers, spectators and the members affectionately reminiscence those happy moments of the days gone by and still hope for such occasion to reoccur on the forthcoming Annual Day Function.
The Library had organized the Golden Jubilee Celebration on the 17th day of April 1999. The two day programme held on 17th and 18th of April at Sahid Bhawan Auditorium, was a grand success. This was only possible due to the active cooperation of all the members of the Golden Jubilee Committee as well as members of the Executive Committee of the Library. To name a few of them Sj.M.F.Alam, Sj.Ashirbad Behera, Sj.Samir Dey, Sj.Ashoke Mukherjee, Late Jishnu Roy, Sj.Shyamal Kumar Mitra, Sj.Tarak Nath Sur, Sj.Rathindra Lal Bose, Sj.Surendra Nath Samantaray, Sj.Sitakanta Mishra, Sri Debu Chatterjee, Late Anil Dasgupta and Sj.Naresh Sen.
Sj.Sourjya Prasad Mohapatra,the Chartered Accountant, has been kind enough to audit our Library Accounts with effect from the financial year 1995-96 and is still continuing honorarily.
In the year 1998, the Library had registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. After which the Library had applied for grant to purchase books and furniture through Directorate of Culture, Odisha. After the recommendation of the State Govt., the Library received the grant and financial support from the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata, the assistance of the State Culture Dept. and RRRLF,Kolkata is still continuing.
The tiny little Library has grown from a small asbestos room of 300 sq.ft. to 1400 sq.ft. concrete room including a spacious Hall with the passing of years. The Library has won the reputation of a good public Library and a monument of Cuttack City.
The Library will always remember the love and affection of its Members, Patrons, Well Wishers, Funding Agent, Donors for the progress and betterment of the Library day after day.
BANDE MATARAM