Project Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya
The Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya (MPP) is the principal archive of books and peridocials in the Nepali language. The library is a non-for-profit institution that is run by a trust. Over the last five decades, it has continuously engaged in collection and archiving of published materials in Nepali language.
The library holds a unique collection of rare monographs, periodicals and ephemera that describe different aspects of Nepalese society, culture, history and Nepali literature of different periods. The collections comprise of newsletters, posters, pamphlets, banners, calendars, manuscripts, reports, manifestos, letters, sketches, photographs, negatives, film-footage, speeches, press releases, images of wall paintings, invitations, and audio recordings.
The walls that held this beautiful archive of history fell down as a result of the Nepal Earthquake 2015. ABARI and the MPP have come together to rebuild a secure home for the national treasures.
Objectives of the MPP Project:
- Design and construct a national archive to house more than 35, 000 books, 50,000 rare photographs, 5,000 ephemera, over 10,000 manuscripts and various other audiovisuals.
- Set an example for post-earthquake reconstruction by building a secure archive using local and natural materials.
- Preserve the history and grandeur of the library by using salvaged materials from the destroyed building.
Latest Updates from the Project Site:
The Abari on-site team had managed to complete the tie beam structure before Dashain. Since then, the team has cleared the excess soil that was left over from the old structure. The plumbing work and soling work for the flooring have also been completed. However, the recent turmoil in Nepal has significantly slowed down the construction process because of a severe shortage of materials in the market. We will soon begin the rammed earth portion of the building, along with construction of the bamboo structure.