Wed Sep 03 21:57:00 UTC 2025: **Kolkata’s Historic Dasgupta & Co. Opens Free Public Library**
**Kolkata, India – September 4, 2025** – Dasgupta & Co., Kolkata’s oldest surviving bookshop, established in 1886, has inaugurated a free public reading library at its iconic College Street location. The initiative aims to provide access to knowledge and education for students and the wider community, particularly those who cannot afford to purchase books.
According to Arabinda Dasgupta, the 73-year-old managing director and a member of the founding family, the library has been attracting 30-40 visitors daily, including a significant number of international guests.
“Education is a basic right,” Mr. Dasgupta stated. “This free library is a way of making knowledge and education more easily accessible to society.”
The library, housed on the second floor of the historic building, boasts a collection of rare and classic books. Mr. Dasgupta shared that Nobel laureate Amartya Sen recently congratulated them on the initiative and took a virtual tour. A generous donor has also contributed 500 rare books to the collection.
Visitors from Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., and the U.S. have already frequented the library, including a team from UNESCO who were particularly interested in books about India and Calcutta.
Looking ahead, Dasgupta & Co. plans to launch an online library after the Durga Puja festivities. A partnership with Union Bank of India is in the works to provide computers and air conditioning for an expanded library space, enabling readers to access books from around the world digitally.
Dasgupta & Co. has a rich history, having survived significant historical events, including the freedom movement, the World Wars, and the Partition. Mr. Dasgupta is confident that the bookshop’s enduring legacy will enable it to thrive even in the age of online shopping.
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