Row over food outlet at Sree Chithira Thirunal Grandhasala library

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A move to open a food counter on the premises of one of the oldest libraries in the state, Sree Chithira Thirunal Grandhasala, at Vanchiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, has raised many eyebrows. While the library authorities justify it as a makeshift arrangement to earn revenue for the library’s renovation, locals suggest that the space could have at least been rented out for some academic activities like a book stall, instead of allowing a food stall.

“The food stall is coming up right at the entrance of the library. Decorative paintings were even done on the wall of the library to spruce up the food stall. But it has cast a shadow over the building’s pride,” said a local resident who does not want to be identified.

Set up in 1914 by Mr. N Kesava Pillai, popularly known as ‘Vayanasala Kesava Pillai’, the library celebrated its centenary recently. With a collection of over two lakh books, the library is also recognised as a research centre by the Mahatma Gandhi University.

Reacting to the move to set up a food stall on the library premises, the library secretary Mr. K P Satheesh said that it was just a temporary arrangement. “We are planning some major renovation work to modernise the library as a digital library. Efforts to raise funds for the purpose was also on. Hence, the space is being rented out for a food counter only for a temporary period,” said Mr. Satheesh, who is also Kesava Pillai’s son.

Meanwhile, an IT firm that was rented out the space on the library building earlier was now engaged in a legal row over vacating the space. The IT firm even allegedly made unauthorised constructions on the buildings. “The IT firm is occupying about 2,500 space for a meagre rent. We have been asking them to vacate the premises for quite some time so that the space could be also used for the library’s expansion,” said Mr.Vinod Nair, a member of the library and Kesava Pillai’s son.

The library was initially set up at Kesava Pillai’s house at Palkulangara. It was shifted to Vanchiyoor in 1964. Scores of eminent personalities had been using the facility since its inception.