A Touch of Divinity

One of Guwahati’s oldest libraries is home to classic books about different faiths and religions

Guwahati has always been the gateway of the entire Northeast. As a cosmopolitan city, it has witnessed folks from diverse backgrounds make their presence felt over the years. Even though it has progressed with time, the city has been able to retain some old remains to remind people of its illustrious past. One such establishment is the ‘Sirat Library’ or ‘Sirot’ in Assam, housed inside one of the oldest mosques in the city, known as the Masjid No. 1 in the Lakhtokia area.

The Ancient Library

In 1954, with the improvement of library services, 7 District Libraries along with the State Central Library, came into being. The State Central Library was shifted to Guwahati in December of 1973 from Shillong to Guwahati. But much before, Sirot Library was a hub of knowledge for locals of Lakhtokia, and the rest of the city for that matter. Though one can’t find any proper mention of the inception of the library or the pioneer builder of the age-old library, it is believed that it was built along with the famous Burah Masjid at the advent of British rule in the country in the 17th century. Caretaker Md. Irfan mentions, ‘To educate the younger generation about the rich history and heritage of Muslims living in Assam, a library was set up. The history and heritage of Muslims of Assam, ethno-cultural study of Muslims in Assam, study of the old historical mosques, mazars, dargahs, Wakf properties, study of Assamese Islamic literature and geographical distribution of Muslims of Assam and their socio-economic status can be easily found in this library.’