A Bibliophile, a collector of rare manuscripts; initially established a Private Library in 1880. Which later in the year 1891 opened for public. He acquired 1400 rare manuscripts from his father Mohammad Bakhsh; and later added 2600 to make it one of the rarest collection of Persian, Arabic and Urdu manuscripts in the world. The library was declared an institution of National importance by the Government of India in 1969.
Impressed with his rich collection, at one occasion The British Library offered him very handsome amount to buy his collection. Which he refused by saying that “I am a poor man. The money that has been offered is a Princely fortune. But how can I ever part for money with that to which my father and I have dedicated our lives.”
He later said about book collection; “The art of collection is one that soars above and defies the provisions of the penal code.
There are three classes of blind men- those who are bereft of sight; those who (lend) valuable books even to a friend; and those who return such volumes, once they have passed into their possession”
Below is a real photograph of Khuda Bakhsh Khan
(Founder of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library - Patna Bihar, India.)
@History of Indian subcontinent
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