The Public Library Department of Karnataka government has decided to donate 8,243 books to Syed Ishaq’s Library, run by an underprivileged worker in Mysuru, which was destroyed in a fire early this month.

A collection of books including Kannada editions of religious scripts like the Bhagwad Gita and Quran, all collected by Syed Ishaq, a 62-year old daily wager over a period of over ten years for his library at Shantinagar area were destroyed in the fire,

Announcing the decision on donating the books, Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister  S Suresh Kumar said in a statement, a proposal was sent to Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation in Kolkata seeking its support in helping the Karnataka government in donating the books to Syed Ishaq’s library. The minister said he was hopeful that the Kolkata-based library which is run under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture  would be able to offer the support.

Syed Ishaq who loves reading books had set up his own library in a slum near the place where he lived for the poor people living in his area.

His emphasis was on popularizing Kannada but some “anti-Kannada forces” who were against his mission had set the library on fire.

“On many occasions, they (anti-Kannada people)  had threatened  me of dire consequences but I did not pay heed to them. Finally they executed their plan,” Syed Ishaq told the media.

On April 17 the Mysuru City Police arrested a 35-year old man in connection with the incident.

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