Madras Literary Society, weathering the vissicitudes of time, still thriving

Discover the rich history of Madras Literary Society, one of the oldest literary organizations, through Icons of Madras by Kamala Ramakrishnan.

If you were looking for a book from the 17th Century or perhaps, a book by Aristotle, then you should head to the Madras Literary Society. Started in 1812, the society is one of the oldest surviving literary organisations and has stood the test of time. According to the book Icons of Madras, written by Kamala Ramakrishnan, the society was founded on the lines of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

The then Governor gave the society his approval to have the library within Madras College on College Road in 1819. When the library was founded, circulation of books as well as periodicals was allowed. But, with time, the circulation of periodicals was stopped, owing to some problems.

While the Madras Literary Society has been popular for its library, there was much more to the society at that time. Be it financial aid or support for intellectual activities, the society lent a hand.

Ms. Ramakrishnan notes: “It was for its efforts in providing scholarship and stimulating intellectual growth that South India owes the Society an eternal debt of gratitude.” From military officers to government officials, those who wished to read extensively thronged the library. The Literary Society was integrated with the Madras Auxiliary of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1832, and it was known as Madras Literary Society and Auxiliary of the Royal Asiatic Society, the book says.

Subsequently, the society saw the publication of a journal that published important pieces on archaeology and geological finds. “It was in this journal that Sir Walter Elliot, an archaeological excavator in South India and President of the Literary Society, published certain South Indian epigraphs and details of his findings at Mamallapuram,” Ms. Ramakrishnan says in the book.

Some eminent personalities like Annie Besant and Subhash Chandra Bose were members of the society. The present building where the library has been on College Road at Nungambakkam since 1906 was constructed in Indo-Saracenic architecture. Today, there are nearly 450 members and more than 55,000 books in the library and people continue to borrow books. The library has also become a famous spot for shooting movies.