Mahatma Khushi Ram Public Library & Reading Room, a brain-child of a retired Post Master was established almost hundred years back, on 4th October, 1921. Mahatma Khushi Ram, a great philanthropist, spiritualist and visionary, donated all his life’s savings and pension as well as a number of valuable books and scriptures read and possessed by him to set up this oldest library in Dehradun which still stands as a “Temple of Learning” being used daily by hundreds of book-lovers, readers, students, scholars and citizens of this town.
At the same time, another great visionary and philanthropist Rai Bahadur Uggar Sain, who was chairman of the Dehradun City Board allotted a two acre piece of land in the heart of the town for this noble purpose. It was under his able guidance as President of the Board of Trustees for more than fifty years that the Library & Reading Room was nurtured and developed.
A further boost and lease of life was given to this temple of learning by a local Architect Shri C.B. Narang who remained its President for more than 25 years and dedicated his heart and soul in its re-birth and upliftment.
Today this heritage treasure-trove of knowledge is looked after by a Board of Trustees comprised of eminent educationists, administrators, professionals as well as social and business leaders with Shri Vijay Bansal, a retired IAS Officer of HP Cadre as its President.
Lastly, a special mention needs to be made that right from its inception His or Her Excellency, the Governor of UP (now Uttarakhand ) is its Chief Patron and the Chief Secretary of the State is its First Patron. The Director of Education & the District Magistrate, Dehradun are its ex-officio members.
