Pune has long been celebrated as a city of learning. This reputation is built on a strong foundation that supports education, including schools, colleges, higher learning institutions, hostels, libraries, and a culture that values open-minded exploration of knowledge. For such an educational environment to thrive, support for learning must be a core cultural value, woven into the city’s identity. Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir, the city’s oldest public library, exemplifies this legacy, having been a beacon of knowledge now for nearly 170 years.
Origins of Learning in Pune: The Influence of the Peshwas
The roots of Pune’s reputation as a center for learning can be traced back to the 18th century when the city was a stronghold under the Peshwas, who ruled with a respect for scholarship. Each year, scholars from across India would gather at the city’s specially designated “Ramana,” where they received a “dakshina,” or stipend, from the Peshwas as a reward for their knowledge. Even after the decline of Peshwa rule, education continued to flourish under British rule, which saw the establishment of new institutions.
In 1821, the British government, utilizing the former Peshwa’s Dakshina Fund, established a Sanskrit School at the iconic Vishrambaug Wada, later expanding to an English school. Gopal Hari Deshmukh, who would become widely known as “Lokhitwadi,” was among the school’s most famous alumni. He went on to play a vital role in founding the Poona Native General Library, later renamed the Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir. The combination of these schools led to the formation of the Poona College in 1851, which relocated in 1868 to Yerawada under the new name Deccan College. As students from across the Deccan flocked to the city, Pune grew further as a center of learning, with many students later taking part in the establishment of Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir.
Budhwar Wada: The Library’s First Home
In the Peshwa era, Budhwar Chowk was among Pune’s busiest and most important locations, home to Bajirao II’s Budhwar Wada, a grand structure of Maratha and European architectural styles. Featuring a clock donated by Sardar Vinchurkar, this mansion became a focal point of the city. Following the end of the Peshwa rule, the British used Budhwar Wada to house various administrative departments. It was here, on February 7, 1848, that the Poona Native General Library was established, adding another chapter to Pune’s tradition of scholarship.
Sir George Russell Clerk, then the Governor of Bombay, instructed Judge Henry Brown to oversee the library’s establishment. The founding committee included several prominent citizens such as Krishna Shastri Chiplunkar, Prof. Keropant Chhatre, and Gopal Hari Deshmukh. Daji Nilkantha Nagarkar served as the first secretary.
Left : Gopal Hari Deshmukh, one of the founders of Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir (1848 – 1892)
Right : The great novelist Hari Narayan Apte (1864 -1919)
Over the years, prominent patrons including the rulers of Gwalior, Sangli, Bhor, and Bhavnagar, as well as Prince of Wales and Lord Lytton, contributed to the library’s development.
Tragedy and Resilience: Rebuilding After the Budhwar Wada Fire
Interestingly, the Poona Native General Library predates the establishment of Pune’s Municipal Council, formed in 1857. This makes it one of Pune’s earliest public institutions, preceding even the city’s formal municipal governance. In 1879, however, the library’s first home, Budhwar Wada, was destroyed by a devastating fire on May 13, and nearly the entire collection was lost—only six books, a file, and sixty additional books later returned by members survived. Temporarily, the library operated out of Nagarkar Wada, also the home of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
Despite this setback, Pune’s intellectual leaders did not lose hope. By 1882, they secured land near the Belbaug temple, close to Budhwar Wada’s original location. The land was purchased from Raosaheb Mahadev Ballal Phadnis for Rs. 4000, and prominent contractor Rao Bahadur Vasudev Kanitkar was engaged to design and construct the new library. Construction commenced in 1887 and was completed in two years, with Rao Bahadur Kanitkar later serving as the library’s vice president from 1901-1904. The project cost was approximately Rs. 25,000, with half contributed by the Bombay Government and the rest raised through donations from Pune’s citizens. On July 30, 1889, Lord Reay, then Governor of Bombay Presidency, inaugurated the new two-story building.
There’s an unverified rumour that Winston Churchill was once a member of this library, although I only came to know about this since my visit so I’m unable to verify the claim. He certainly did have associations with Pune as an lieutenant of the Fourth Hussars Regiment, although for very short periods of time as he was mostly based in Bangalore. The only evidence I could find for Churchill being in Pune comes from the memoirs of the Aga Khan :
“It was at Poona in the late summer of 1896 that our paths first crossed. A group of officers of the Fourth Hussars, then stationed at Bangalore, called on me. I was ill at the time, but my cousin showed them my horses. He later told me that among them none had a keener, more discriminating eye, none was a better judge of a horse, than a young subaltern by the name of Winston Spencer Churchill. He was a little over twenty, eager, irrepressible, and already an enthusiastic, courageous, and promising polo player.”
The Poona City General Library: Growth and Leadership
In 1921, the library adopted its current name, Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir. Over the years, the library was led by some of Pune’s most esteemed figures. Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade served as president from 1892-1901, followed by Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar (1901-1925), Diwan Bahadur K.R. Godbole (1925-1937), and the literary icon “Sahitya Samrat” Narasimha Chintaman Kelkar (1937-1938).
Left : Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade (1892 – 1901)
Middle : Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar (1901 – 1925)
Right : Narasimha Chintaman Kelkar (1937-1938)
Narahar Vishnu Gadgil, a minister in independent India’s first cabinet under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, donated his personal copy of the Indian Constitution to the library in 1955, which I had the privilege of seeing during my visit.
Literary great Acharya Atre even credited Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir as the foundation of his literary life, expressing his deep gratitude for the institution. Socialist ideologue and Member of Parliament Madhu Limaye, too, often recounted his early days of voracious reading in the library.
The New Era: Relocating to Laxmi Road
In the mid-20th century, as Laxmi Road was developed, many properties were acquired for the project, including part of the library premises. This shift, however, proved beneficial as Laxmi Road quickly became Pune’s premier commercial thoroughfare, bringing additional foot traffic to the library. The relocation also provided the library with rental income from the establishments on its property, supporting its mission and helping preserve its extensive collection.
The Library Today: A Rich Collection and Modern Relevance
Today, Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir houses over 70,000 books, including rare and valuable volumes that provide a window into history. With approximately 3,000 members, the library remains active in Pune’s educational community. Its aesthetic harkens back to an earlier era, with classic wooden furniture and large portraits adorning its walls, evoking an atmosphere that bridges the past with the present.
The library’s expansion into digital platforms and its branches throughout Pune make it accessible to a broader audience, preserving its relevance in a rapidly modernizing world. This transformation is a testament to the vision of its founders, who saw the library as a cornerstone of Pune’s learning ecosystem.
In 1848, Lokhitwadi (Gopal Hari Deshmukh) observed that “the library has three hundred books and subscribes to four newspapers” and optimistically predicted that it “will prosper in the future.” Today, his words hold true. Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir stands as a pillar of Pune’s identity and educational ethos, a bridge between the city’s illustrious past and its dynamic future. This living institution remains a testament to Pune’s unwavering commitment to learning, ever poised to continue inspiring generations to come.
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