Students told about relevance of libraries in Smartphone era
The Statesman | 26 August 2025
The Balagarh Bijoy Krishna College Library Committee organised a discussion to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Kumar Munindra Debroy, widely known as the father of the library movement.
During the event, teachers and students highlighted the relevance, importance, and positive creative aspects of libraries in comparison with smartphones.
The keynote speaker was former headmaster Ashok Gangopadhyay, recipient of the Shiksharatna Puraskar. The meeting was presided over by the college principal, Dr Pratap Banerjee. Convenors of the library committee, Professor Dibyendu Bhattacharya and Professor Partha Chattopadhyay, stated: “We remember the father of the library movement, Kumar Munindra Debroy, on his birth anniversary with deep reverence.”
Born on 26 August, 1874 into the royal family of Bansberia in Hooghly district, Munindra Debroy dedicated his life to nurturing educational culture in his region. He became renowned as the pioneer of the library movement in undivided Bengal and served as president of the Bengal Library Council until his death.
In 1932, as a member of the Bengal Management Council, he presented a draft of the Library Act which, although unanimously accepted, could not be implemented due to lack of funds. In 1934, he represented India at the International Library Conference in Spain, where his speech on the significance of libraries captivated bibliophiles from around the world.
The discussion also underscored the continuing importance of libraries in the smartphone era. Libraries offer vast collections of books, journals, and digital resources that are not always freely available online. They provide a distraction-free study environment and expert guidance from librarians, helping students develop essential research skills. Many modern libraries also offer access to digital databases, e-books, computers, printers, and other technology, thereby bridging the digital divide.
Libraries serve not only as centres of learning but also as community hubs, hosting events, workshops, and study groups that encourage collaboration and socialisation among students. Even in this age of rapid digitalisation, libraries continue to play a vital role in academic success by offering unique resources.