The iconic Raza library of Rampur: A rare literary treasure in South Asia for 250 years

Highlights: Rampur Raza Library is the oldest library of South Asia, home to 17,000 manuscripts and 83,000 books History of the Raza Library in Rampur Rarest literary gems preserved in the Raza Library Challenges faced  Know the reviews, ratings, and how you reach the place? 

A literary treasure that has been breathing for 250 years now, Rampur’s Raza Library is indeed iconic in every sense. Notably, the Raza library is one of the oldest libraries of South Asia, functioning under the Government of India, owing to its national importance. It treasures work in Arabic, Persian, Pashto, Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi, and Turkish languages of different religions with nearly 17,000 manuscripts. But it is a home to Indo-Islamic learning and arts [1].

The library was in the news recently when Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group, made an unexpected discovery of the hidden gem. The business leader happened to come across a tweet by Sam Dalrymple, a writer associated with William Collins Books in London, who had visited India and explored Rampur. The writer shared a beautiful picture of the library, calling it “The prettiest library in India.” He even praised the rare manuscript collection in the library, which makes it one of the most important literary archives.

 

That is a magnificent structure. I had absolutely no idea of its existence. I’m embarrassed. By itself, it makes Rampur a must-see destination… https://t.co/5gnbeMHch5

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 4, 2025

Anand Mahindra was in awe of the beauty of the Raza library, prompting him to re-share the tweet, admitting to, “That is a magnificent structure. I had absolutely no idea of its existence. I’m embarrassed. By itself, it makes Rampur a must-see destination.” The post has gone viral, leading to a sudden interest among netizens developing a widespread interest in the rich historical legacy of Rampur.

Delve into the prettiest and now the ICONIC library of India:

The history

Located 200 km from Delhi, the Raza Library is located in the Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. It was founded by the first Nawab of Rampur, Nawab Faizullah Khan, in 1774 and named after Raza Ali Khan Bahadur, who served as the Nawab of Rampur from 1930 to 1966.  The establishment came during a time of internal turbulence with a declining Mughal empire. It is currently sheltered in Hamid Manzil, erected by the 9th Nawab Hamid Ali Khan, who is known for renovating and reviving the library. It features a beautiful collection of 5000 paintings and palm leaf manuscripts in different languages. The printed books collection is around 83,000. There are 5,000 specimens of Islamic calligraphy found in the library. The succeeding nawabs were also patrons of literature and art, further ensuring the growth of the institution [2] [3].

After independence, in 1951, the Raza library came under the control of trust. 25 years later, in 1975, the library was taken over by the Government of India through Rampur Raza Library Act No. 22, declaring it an institution of ‘national importance. The library was also designated as a ‘Manuscript Conservation Center’ in 2003 [4].    

The rarest gems at the Raza library

17,000 manuscripts, 83,000 books, 3,000 specimens of Islamic Calligraphy, and 5,000 miniature paintings are preserved in the library 

The Raza library is home to some of the literary pieces that are rarest gems here. These include:

Valmiki’s Ramayana- The Hindu epic Ramayana, written by Valmiki, was translated into Persian in 1715. It has 258 miniature paintings inside [5] [6] .

The Holy Quran- Some copies of the Holy Quran are preserved in the Raza library, as many as 500. The rarest of which is by the hands of Ibn Muqla, who invented the Nashkh script [5] [6].

7th century AD Holy Quran written on leather, notably by 4th Caliph Hazrat Ali, along with the handwritten copy by Musa Kazim and another by Hazrat Jafar Sadiq on parchment in early kufic script can also be found in the library. The sacred book has some of the specimens on cloth, copper, and handmade paper, too [5] [6].  

Moreover, the Raza Library also has Mughal Emperor Akbar’s Holy Quran with his seal and the signature of Faizi and the seal of Prince Dara Shikoh [5] [6].

Diwan-e-Hafiz- The Diwan-e-Hafiz is a collection of poems dating back to the 16th century. It has the only known painting that captures Mughal Emperor Akbar’s Mongolian features [5] [6].

Diwan-e-Babar- It is a manuscript written by Babar in the Persian language. It reveals the emperor’s poetic side, with the verses written in his handwriting [5] [6].

Jamiut- Tawarikh- An early illustrated Persian work of the 14th century authored by Rashiddudin Fazlullah chronicles the history of Mongol tribes. A reproduced copy of the historical work was presented by PM Modi to the Mongolian President in 2015 [7].

All the original manuscripts have been preserved in the Raza Library under the Ministry of Culture. The security is looked after by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Challenges

It has never been easy to run to the library. There have been problems time and again for the institution to survive, first during the period of the British and then even after independence. Until recently, there has been a continuous shortage of staff; nearly 10 positions were vacant. Even the director’s position hasn’t been filled since 2020. Besides the manpower, there was a need for advanced equipment like large scanners. The digitization of manuscripts also isn’t completely done [5].  

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Raza Library, the district administration organized a year-long celebration in Rampur. The 250th anniversary in 2023 brought in some hope for the library with a grant of Rs 7.2 crore from the central government that has helped in renovation, a souvenir shop, a cafeteria, and the installation of necessary equipment [5]. 

Sanam Ali Khan, who is the daughter of Hamid Ali Khan, continues the legacy of her family as an art conservator at the library, trying to revive and conserve the heritage down the lineage [5].

How to reach?

If you want to visit this wonderful gem of a kind in Rampur, then you can plan your visit soon: 

By air: If you are thinking of the nearest airport to Rampur, it has to be Pantnagar Airport, which is about 62 km from the city. There is also the Mundapandey airstrip, which is also near Rampur [8].  

By train: You can easily book your tickets to Rampur and depart for Rampur Railway Station for a convenient journey. After this, take a cab, e-rickshaw, or any other public transport to commute to Raza Library [8]. 

By road: Head to Rampur Moradabad Highway if you are travelling via road. It will be an easy access to the library [8]. 

Reviews and Ratings

The Rampur Raza Library is not only an archive filled with literary pieces; it is also a major attraction for visitors while visiting Moradabad. You can refer to these via Google Reviews, where Raza Library has an overall rating of 4.4 with a total of 946 reviews [9] . Here are some: 

Akansha, who posted about her visit to the library a year ago, says, “Very beautiful and clean library. Well maintained by the authorities. A garden with lots of flowers and greenery. A pretty garden view from outside and amazing monuments are kept inside. Must visit when you travel to Rampur.”

Shaurya Batham chooses to provide a historical insight into the library to the visitors, mentioning its key features such as the literary collection, architecture, its significance, and management.

Irshad Hussain writes, “It is a nice historical building. This library has many historical books, jewelry, sculptures, and swords. This place is well protected by CISF soldiers. Cleanliness and greenery are also very good. A good arrangement of ample seats has been made for sitting. This is a library, so it is important to maintain peace here.” 

You can also refer to this beautiful documentary feature on Rampur’s Raza library:

 

The Rampur Raza Library is a fascination, a literary haven for scholars, painters, calligraphers, and musicians. It is significant in preserving and, at the same time, disseminating rare knowledge for the coming generations. Let us make sure that the library thrives, keeping centuries-old heritage alive. Anand Mahindra was very much right in his words; it would be an embarrassment for us if we do not know about this rare gem in India and if we fail to recognise it.