Khwaja Nur Elahi (1905–1974)
Born at Lahore in 1905, Elahi received his B.A. in 1917 from IslamiaCollege, Lahore. From 1929 to 1933 he worked at the Quartermaster General Office of the British Armed Forces Headquarters at Delhi. He completed the Certificate Course in Library Science in 1934 from the PunjabUniversity and in the same year he joined DelhiUniversity, where he worked for thirteen years in various capacities. He rose to the position of assistant librarian, which was quite a dignified post at that time. The Delhi University Library was then headed by Professor Das Gupta. He opted to serve Pakistan on independence.
As the librarian since 1948 of Punjab Public Library, the country’s leading public library, he was actively involved for about 18 years in all the major library events which took place in the initial years of the establishment of the country. These include: preparation of the first plan for library development in the country; revival of Modern Librarian; formation of the Pakistan Library Association, the Pakistan Bibliographical Group, and the West Pakistan Library Association; and, institution of the degree program at the University of the Punjab.
His leadership qualities were ably manifested on the eve of the fourth and fifth annual conferences of the Pakistan Library Association, held at Lahore in 1961 and 1964 respectively. Modesty was perhaps his best asset and totally unmatched in the profession. Through his humility of character and his unfailing readiness to listen to the vibrant voices of others, he earned their high esteem and lasting respect. I always found him to be simple in his ways, constantly inspiring, ever understanding, unfailingly warm and a just man. He was one of few librarians who commanded the respect of the librarians of both the wings of Pakistan.
Born at Lahore in 1905, Elahi received his B.A. in 1917 from IslamiaCollege, Lahore. From 1929 to 1933 he worked at the Quartermaster General Office of the British Armed Forces Headquarters at Delhi. He completed the Certificate Course in Library Science in 1934 from the PunjabUniversity and in the same year he joined DelhiUniversity, where he worked for thirteen years in various capacities. He rose to the position of assistant librarian, which was quite a dignified post at that time. The Delhi University Library was then headed by Professor Das Gupta. He opted to serve Pakistan on independence.
As the librarian since 1948 of Punjab Public Library, the country’s leading public library, he was actively involved for about 18 years in all the major library events which took place in the initial years of the establishment of the country. These include: preparation of the first plan for library development in the country; revival of Modern Librarian; formation of the Pakistan Library Association, the Pakistan Bibliographical Group, and the West Pakistan Library Association; and, institution of the degree program at the University of the Punjab.
His leadership qualities were ably manifested on the eve of the fourth and fifth annual conferences of the Pakistan Library Association, held at Lahore in 1961 and 1964 respectively. Modesty was perhaps his best asset and totally unmatched in the profession. Through his humility of character and his unfailing readiness to listen to the vibrant voices of others, he earned their high esteem and lasting respect. I always found him to be simple in his ways, constantly inspiring, ever understanding, unfailingly warm and a just man. He was one of few librarians who commanded the respect of the librarians of both the wings of Pakistan.
