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A new public library has opened at Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, gathering more than 10,000 donated and purchased volumes into a single, accessible collection. Named Thunchan Smrithi in tribute to Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the facility aims to be both a preservation effort and a working resource for students, researchers and readers interested in Kerala’s language and culture.
What the new library holds
The collection has been freshly organized in a purpose-built space beside Lok Bhavan’s main entrance so the books can be used rather than stored. Library staff say the holdings include more than 4,000 Malayalam titles and roughly 6,000 books in English, along with works in other Indian languages.
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Subjects represented span literature, history, philosophy, culture and science, with some items described by organisers as rare or valuable for regional research. Previously scattered across multiple locations, the volumes are now shelved and catalogued to support reading and study.
Who the library is for — and why it matters now
The initiative is intended to go beyond simple conservation. By concentrating these resources under one roof, organisers expect easier access for:
- research scholars and university students conducting regional studies
- writers and teachers seeking reference material on Kerala’s literary traditions
- general readers with an interest in local history and culture
The timing is significant for scholars tracing language development and cultural change in Kerala: having primary and secondary sources close at hand speeds research and classroom preparation, and can support new academic and public programmes.
Official and cultural backing
At the opening, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar framed the library as a cultural space that should reflect Kerala’s diversity and intellectual heritage. He underlined the idea that the collection should serve as a practical knowledge centre for those studying the region’s past and present.
Filmmaker-director Adoor Gopalakrishnan welcomed the choice of name, saying it fittingly honours the historical figure often credited with shaping Malayalam written tradition. Poet V. Madhusoodanan Nair urged that the library evolve into a hub for researchers and students, while author George Onakkoor praised the administration’s focus on promoting the regional language and said that intent helped bring the project to life.
Practical details and next steps
The library is set up to receive visitors for reading and research; staff are cataloguing the collection and preparing access policies for scholars and the public. Over time, organisers plan to expand services and outreach to universities and cultural institutions.
- Location: New building adjacent to the main entrance, Lok Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram
- Collection size: Over 10,000 volumes (≈4,000 Malayalam; ≈6,000 English; additional Indian languages)
- Primary focus: Kerala literature, history, culture, philosophy, and related fields
- Intended users: Researchers, students, teachers, writers and general readers
The inauguration drew a number of notable figures from Kerala’s cultural scene, including Rosemary, P. Vijayakrishnan, A. M. Unnikrishnan and R. Pradeep, who attended the ceremony and underlined the importance of making regional collections accessible to the public.
By consolidating decades of gifts and acquisitions into a single, usable library, Thunchan Smrithi seeks to turn preservation into active scholarship — a practical resource for anyone investigating Kerala’s literary and cultural record.
