Friday 2 October 2015

Archbishop T.A. Ganguly Library in Dhaka University

Archbishop T.A. Ganguly Library in DU















Photo: T A Ganguly l টি এ গাঙ্গুলী facebook.com/TAGanguly

Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario CSC inaugurated the ‘Archbishop T.A. Ganguly Library of World Religions’ in the department of World Religions and Culture of Dhaka University on September 2, 2013. The day is also the 36th death anniversary of Archbishop T.A. Ganguly, the first Bengali Archbishop. The inaugural session was presided over by Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam, the founder Chairman of the department and the chief guest was Dr. A.S.M Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University. The distinguished guests present and spoke on the occasion were Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario CSC, Bishop Theotonius Gomes CSC and Prof. Mohammad Ilias, Chairman of the Department. Teachers, students, members of the board of trustee and other invited guests were present.


The program began with the recitation from the Holy Scriptures and placing them on the book selves. The students of the department of World Religions presented an inter-religious hymn which impressed all. Prof. Mohammad Ilias welcomed the guests. In his speech he invited all to work for dialogue, peace and harmony.  This particular library will play a vital role in the live of the students, teachers and others interested for any research, he stated.


In his speech Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario CSC reminded that the centenary of Dhaka University which is called ‘Oxford of the East’ is very near. On this auspicious occasion it is another significant milestone in the history of the university to dedicate a library after Archbishop T.A. Ganguly. Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly CSC was a great man. He obtained doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA on his thesis ‘Nature and Man’ based on Upanishad. Archbishop Ganguly was the professor of Logic at Notre Dame College, later on Principal of the same college. His contribution is immense during the liberation war especially for sheltering the refugee and providing them food and medical treatment. After the liberation war he contributed a lot for distribution of relief, rehabilitation and development activities of Bangladesh.


It may be mentioned that with a proposal was raised to Archbishop Paulinus Costa, then Archbishop of Dhaka in 2010 with a view of introducing Archbishop T.A. Ganguly, Servant of God to all peoples, irrespective of faith and castes. Although it took a long time but at the end all the efforts came to fulfillment through establishing a library. On behalf of the Catholic Church in Bangladesh, Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario CSC donated a cheque of Twelve Lac and Fifty Thousand and a letter to the Vice Chancellor. A fund raising committee was formed with Fr. Tapon D’Rozario as convener. Other members of the committee were: Fr. Kamal A. Corraya (representative of the Archbishiop), Fr. James Cruze CSC (representative of the Holy Cross Priests’ Society), Bro. Leo J. Pereira CSC (representative of the Holy Cross Brothers’ Society), Mr. Prodip Stanley Gomes (representative of Caritas Bangladesh).


Vice Chancellor in his speech said that through the establishment of this library we are not only honoring or recognizing Archbishop T.A. Ganguly but recognizing through him the University and its tradition of important and honorable role it played. He thanked the Church for its generous contribution towards the library. The Vice Chancellor called upon the students of World Religions and Culture to be the instrumental of peace and harmony and to be illuminated persons of the nation.


Speaking on this occasion Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam said that his dream is not only limited to an inter religious library but also he sees the possibility of establishing a museum of World Religions. He also thanked all who worked relentlessly to make this dream a reality. Fr. Tapon D’Rozario, Associate Professor of the department of World Religions and Culture of Dhaka University was the master of ceremony.
The Catholic Bishops's Conference Of Bangladesh
Date Published: 8 Sep, 2013

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