Launching of India Corner
National Library
16 May 2019

Hon. Minister of Arts & Culture, Prithvirajsing Roopun
Hon. Parliamentary Private Secretary, Rajcoomar Rampertab
Director National Library Mrs. T. K. Ramnauth
Chairman, National Library Board, Mr. R. Swamber
Friends from Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Guests
Dear Students
Members of the Press

   I would like to thank the Hon’ble Minister and the National Library to make this initiative to establish the India Corner at this important institution successful.

 Libraries are among the oldest institutions of human civilization.  They are storehouses of our collective heritage. 

 Great libraries such as the ones in Nalanda or Taxila in ancient India and Alexandria in ancient Egypt attracted scholars from afar. These were seats of learning that not only specialized in religious teachings but on other subjects such as astronomy, philosophy, medicine.

 Today, digital revolution and connectivity are transforming the way people read. E-books offer multiple advantages. Handling these changes poses a significant challenge to the print media sector and Libraries. But the printed books retain their relevance, utility and popularity.

 Only yesterday, I attended a visit to a school organized by the Ministry of Education where young children studying in grades 1, 2 and 3 were using e-tablets to learn various languages, and mathematics etc.  It was great to see the excitement that technology adds to the process of learning.

 However, it was also clear that the role of teachers and printed books and media remains relevant while adapting to the needs of modern contexts.

 It is encouraging to see that Government of Mauritius is moving ahead in realizing the digital opportunity.  At the same time, they are also investing in supporting the longstanding institution of learning such as the National Library.

 I understand that the National Library of Mauritius in its 3 decades of existence has an impressive collection of 650,000 titles. The National Library is investing in a growing audio-visual collection and has made progress in digitalization also.

 Friends,

 India and Mauritius have a unique relationship, the close people to people ties and our cultural and social bonds are well-known. Both our countries pride ourselves and draw strength from the diversity of our peoples – ethnicities, languages, faiths and cultures.

 When we talk about India, we are talking about one-sixth of humanity with an ancient civilization, source of several religions, now a modern nation among the world’s fastest growing largest economies with advance scientific and technological capabilities.

 India’s population is primarily a young population, one that is optimistic about future and of course currently we are in the middle of the largest electoral exercise in the world with 900 million eligible voters.

 It is not easy to grasp the complexities of such a society.

 Books and articles by renowned authors and audio visual resources are a good companion to provide a glimpse into the various aspects of a country and reveal such complexities of a society.

 The libraries at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the University of Mauritius, the Rabindranath Tagore Institute and the World Hindi Secretariat host collections of books on India.  The High Commission and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture also have some collection of books on India.

 This special India Corner being established at the National Library aims to provide access to a wide range of resources about India to scholars, academics, officials, students and the common reader alike.

 This is a modest beginning but we look forward to working with the National Library to develop a useful collection on a whole range of issues.

 India will also partner Government of Mauritius in the construction of the new premises for the National Library.

 May I again thank all the colleagues at the National Library and others who have worked on this initiative and look forward to continue our partnership.

 Thank you.

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