CHENNAI: Luz Church Road is a familiar territory for me, as I have used this road often to reach Kamarajar Salai. I have also walked down this stretch on numerous occasions. But I don’t know how I missed spotting Ranade Library, just next to the Mylapore Cricket Club, until last week when it caught my attention while I was on an assignment.A huge 10-feet tall tree hides the entrance of the library. But the shadow that the tree contributes to the serenity of the place.The cornerstone at the entrance says the foundation stone of this 106-year-old building was laid by freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale.When you enter the octagonal structure, it reminds you of any ordinary public library with its big spread of tables. Newspapers and magazines, with pages flipping by the wind from the ancient fans overhead, are scattered all over the table.A few elderly were seen reading national dailies and local newspapers.Photos of yesteryear leaders adorned the library’s walls. The wooden shelves in the library have a huge collection of books, many of which belong to the 18th century.Hemanth Kumar, honorary secretary, recalled how V Krishnaswamy Iyer, PR Sundaram Iyer and Dewan Bahadur Ragunatha Rao started The South Indian National Association, and subsequently, this library. Named after the social reformist, Mahadev Govind Ranade, the library initially functioned from Brodies Road (now RK Mutt Road) and only in 1928, it was shifted to the current building.“The land originally belonged to Kapaleeshwarar Temple Devasthanam and we acquired three grounds for the building from Mylapore Cricket Academy on sublease. The contract ended in 2000 and now we are the direct lessee of Devasthanam,” says Hemanth.The Srinivasa Sastri Hall is also given on rent for literary and cultural events.“Anybody can become a member of this library by paying `100 as deposit,” he adds.The honorary secretary also reveals that veteran leaders such as Rajaji, Rajendra Prasad and Jayaprakash Narayan have paid a visit to the library.
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