Interestingly, a very large number of these manuscripts relate to science and mathematics. Two volumes of the Descriptive Catalogues (in English) of the Library’s manuscripts specifically deal with such texts. Some of the rare works of Alberuni, in the form of risalas or long essays, on astronomy are also preserved at the Library. Khuda Bakhsh, significantly, was not merely a collector of books but an avid scholar. He compiled the Mahbub al-Albaab, an annotated catalogue of the rare manuscripts in his collection. Many of his essays in Persian, Urdu and English, published in different journals, are preserved at the Library.                    

It was his earnest desire that the Library founded by him should not remain merely a repository of manuscripts, texts, documents and books but evolve into a vibrant academic and intellectual centre, on the lines of the Islamic Libraries of the Medieval Muslim World. Significantly, his vision was in complete harmony with the present vision of the library as an institution.

I believe that this album will bring to notice a new and interesting dimension of the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, as a vibrant intellectual centre. 

Imtiaz Ahmad

                                                                                                                    Director