A hidden treasure trove: The race against dust and time to save Dhaka’s oldest archive
Once transported from Kolkata to Dhaka after the partition, the Madrasa-i-Alia library remains an overlooked treasure trove of rare Arabic, Persian, and English texts—silently preserving centuries of Bengal’s intellectual heritage
About two months ago, two foreigners were spotted at the Madrasa-i-Alia library in Dhaka. They had long known of the library and came this time in search of rare books. One was Thomas Newbold, a history professor at BRAC University. The other, his friend Shahin Pishbin, is a Persian scholar. After surveying the collection, they remarked, "This is an invaluable treasure trove!"
They were accompanied by two Bengalis: Tariq Omar Ali, an associate professor at Georgetown University, and Dr Shahidul Hasan from Dhaka University's History Department. All four share a deep fascination with old manuscripts—especially those from Bengal. Their journey brought them to this hidden archive in search of these invaluable texts.
Dr Hasan, who has extensively researched Arabic-Persian manuscripts and the socio-religious history of medieval Bengal, called the Aliya Madrasa library "the most important collection for understanding the 19th-century world of knowledge of Bengali Muslims."
245-year-old institution
The library is nearly 245 years old. For 167 of those years, it stood in Kolkata, before being relocated to Dhaka 78 years ago. It now rests quietly in Bakhshibazar, inside the Dhaka Aliya Madrasa compound.
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Its roots trace back to 1780, during the British East India Company's rule. That year, Muslims in Kolkata appealed to Governor-General Warren Hastings to establish a madrasa for Islamic and modern education. Hastings accepted, and Madrasa-i-Alia was born.
After the Partition in 1947, this institution along with its furniture, and the vast library were transported to East Pakistan—first by ship to Chattogram, then to Dhaka. The madrasa first operated from the current Kabi Nazrul College building in Laxmibazar before moving to Bakhshibazar in 1960, where it remains today.
Even now, colonial-era furniture survives in the classrooms and library—witnesses to generations of learning. The wooden cupboards hold an estimated 25,000 books, many of them rare, written in Arabic, Persian, English, and Bengali.
Treasures lined up on shelves
The library sits on the second floor of the madrasa. Stepping inside, the musty scent of old paper overwhelms the senses. Rows upon rows of aged cupboards stretch across four large rooms. They seem to whisper stories of a bygone Kolkata, of devoted scholars who once handwrote the Bukhari Sharif or compiled encyclopaedias of Fiqh.
Librarian Mahmuda Begum shared that some books in the collection are even older than the madrasa itself. Topics range from religion and philosophy to science, literature, and astronomy. Classical English and French literature are also part of the mix.
"The specialty of this library is that most of the books came from Kolkata—Islamic knowledge and science books from the British era. It's a rich archive. Those who know understand how valuable the books here are," she said.
She showed off an old illustrated edition of the Shahnameh and an album of Mughal court prints, rich with paintings of imperial events.
Md Omar Faruk, a first-year Kamil student, said, "Some books even came from China—some almost 400 years old. I don't think there's any library richer than this one."
A collection of world-renowned works
Final-year undergraduate Tashfiqul Islam is a regular visitor. He has come across many rare books during his visits. Among them are early editions of Ain-i-Akbari, along with classics of logic and mathematics like Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala, Kitab al-Fakhri, Kitab al-Mahajan, and Kitab al-Hisab. Legal texts such as Kitab al-Mabsut, al-Muwatta, and Kitab al-Ansab are also here, alongside medical texts like Ibn Sina's Qanun fi't-Tibb and Kitab al-Shifa.
Some books also provide glimpses into British-era education, religious thought, and scientific knowledge. "Initially, Dhaka Aliya Madrasa taught subjects like law, astronomy, logic, philosophy, arithmetic, geometry, grammar, and theology. For studying these, these library books are invaluable," said Tashfiqul.
There is a separate reading room for students, and newspapers and journals are available too. Outsiders must obtain special permission from the principal to use the library.
A quiet destination for researchers
Despite its immense value, the library remains little known. But those who know it value it. Principal Professor Mohammad Obaidul Haque said researchers from home and abroad occasionally visit this library.
Librarian Mahmuda Begum added, "Many come here searching for books they know exist only in this library. Iranians often come for Persian texts. Visits dropped during the pandemic, but people still come when they hear of it."
Mohammad Shawkat Osman, a lecturer at the madrasa's Arabic Literature Department, regularly consults rare Arabic and Persian works. He's read handwritten Bukhari Sharif, Hadith collections by Anas ibn Malik (RA), and ancient Arabic poetry and Persian verse by Hafiz.
"There used to be people here who read these books, but not many do now. Still, from the notes and markings, it's clear they were once deeply read."
For the current generation, these books pose a challenge. "We struggle to read these texts. We need interpreters. Many prefer to rely on the internet," said student Omar Faruk. "But we must overcome this if we want true knowledge."
The call for preservation
Years of dust, decay, and neglect have pushed many manuscripts towards ruin. Principal Obaidul Haque, who took charge just two months ago, has ambitious plans to preserve and digitise the collection. "I want to create modern editions of the manuscripts and turn this into an e-library," he said. But support from the government and the public is essential.
Librarian Mahmuda Begum agrees. "Books naturally wear down with age—pages tear, dust gathers, insects damage them. But preservation is possible, especially through digitisation."
Dr Shahidul Hasan also emphasised the importance of preserving this archive for historical research. He intends to work on this project and hopes to assist if approached by the madrasa authorities.
Students believe modernising the library and making it more accessible would truly fulfil its purpose. Only then, this 245-year-old sanctuary of knowledge can reclaim its rightful place in history.
This article was originally written and published in Bangla. Translated by Anonno Afroz.
