S. Naved Qaisar Shah / Rampur

About 200 km way from New Delhi, some of the rarest Arabic manuscripts are kept inside Rampur Raza Library in Uttar Pradesh. These antiques could be used to leverage diplomacy in the Arab world.

India’s inherent strength of preserving world heritage was quite apparent at the exhibition of rare copies of the Holy Quran at the Rampur Raza Library. There are 500 copies of Holy Quran preserved in this library.

Many rare copies of the written Holy Quran were put on display on Wednesday for the public. The exhibition was inaugurated by newly appointed Director of the library Dr Puskhar Mishra.

Holy Quran By Hazrat Ali on Parchment in early Kofic script seventh Century AD 

The copies included Seventh century AD Holy Quran written on leather, which is said to have been written by the Hazrat Ali, besides the handwritten copy of Musa Kazim and the rare copy of the Holy Quran written by the Hazrat Jafar Sadiq can also be seen.

It is indeed a matter of great pride and distinction that the library also has a copy of the Holy Quran written by the hand of Ibn Muqla, the inventor of the Naskh script, here.

Rampur Raza Library with its Museum is considered as one of the most famous libraries in the world. There are about 17,000 manuscripts, 60,000 rare and rare printed books in different domestic and foreign languages.

The exhibition of rare copies of the Holy Quran in the form of manuscripts and publications on leather, cloth, copper and hand-made paper is organised every year in the last days of holy month of Ramazan.

The event does not attract the kind of attention it deserves. This occasion could be better used to introduce to the Arabic speaking world to these rare antiques, which could be of very special interest to them.

Holy Quran By Jafar Sadiq on Parchment in early Kofic script 8th Sanctuary AD 

The fact that India hosts world’s rarest copies of the Quran could help in engaging Arabic speaking world and improve upon our relations with them. A large part of the Arab world may not even be aware about the treasures of religious manuscripts kept in the library.  

On such occasions it would be appropriate to invite the top officials or heads of the Arab states. Such gestures could strengthen our socio-economic relations with them and bring about mutually beneficial relations.

Raza Library was founded 250 years ago by the Rohilla Sardar Nawab Faizullah Khan along with the foundation of Rampur State. Even after India's independence, this aspect has been left with a huge gap due to lack of adequate attention. There is a saying that comes late comes true. Today it can be easily made famous.

The library is not only a collection of books but is housed in a building which itself is a fine example of a beautiful Indo-European architectural style. That’s why the library is becoming a tourist destination as well.

There are thousands of pictures of the sultans, especially Mughal pictures, and thousands of rare specimen of calligraphy.

The Jamia-ut-Towarikh is a rare illustrated copy of Mongolian history which was also presented by the Prime Minister of India to the Mongolian counterpart during his visit there.

Scholars from many countries, especially Europe, America, Australia, etc., and Arab countries like Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt, England, Germany, China, and Japan, etc., come here to do research.

Mughal Emperor Akbar's Holy Quran with his seal and signature of Faizi and the seal of Prince Dara Shikoh

Ambassadors of many countries visit the place from time to time. Rampur Raza Library is an asset of India that if projected properly could play a strategic role in Indian foreign policy, we can use the heritage in the library to leverage better relations with the Muslim world.

It may be recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presented replica of manuscripts of the handwritten Holy Quran of Hazrat Ali and a replica of the Balmaki Ramayan in Persian to the President and Prime Minister of Iran during his visit to Iran.

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The originals of these manuscripts have been preserved in the library, which comes under Ministry of Culture and its security is managed by Central Industrial Security Force.

(S. Naved Qaisar Shah is a research scholar at the Rampur Raza Library)