A PRIVATE library of Scottish literature collected by a former inspector of Scottish schools has been donated to an Indian university.
The collection of around 8,000 books will be used to support the study of Scottish literature at the University of Bankura, the first university in India to run a course in Scottish Studies at masters level.
The library has been donated by the family of Jim Alison, OBE, who died in August and was an active member of the Association for Scottish Literary Studies (ASLS).
The gift has been welcomed by the university which ran a Scottish literature conference in January attended by Scottish academics.
“Words fail to express my gratitude to all who endeavoured to make this great mission successful,” said Bankura Vice Chancellor Professor Deb Narayan Bandyopadhyay.
“I believe that this event of donation of 8,000 books to Bankura University will one day become part of history as an instance of cultural transactions between Scotland and India.
“I can foresee Bankura University will emerge as a new academic destination for Scottish Studies with scholars flocking around the library and James Alison immortalised in the heart of all the students and teachers of Bankura University.”
Organised by the ASLS, the cost of transporting the books – currently on a ship in the Indian Ocean – has been supported with a £4,000 grant from the Scottish Government.
Alison’s family decided to donate the books after a suggestion from Alan Riach, Professor of Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, who gave the final lectures of last year’s Scottish studies course at Bankura.
Professor Riach, who described Alison as “one of the best men he had ever known,” said he had spoken with his family at the funeral and found that they were wondering what to do with the books.
“I mentioned that one possibility might be to donate it to the University as a foundation resource for Scottish literature in India. The family were taken by this idea so the ASLS swung into action.”
The logistics of transporting the books to Bankura turned out to be more difficult than expected but, after much searching, Ronnie Renton, another member of the association, found a Milngavie-based company who agreed to take on the job. It took two men two days to pack the books for shipping.
“I was overwhelmed when I saw the collection,” said Renton. “There were so many books. I could not believe he had them all and they will be a wonderful asset to a university.
“He was a very learned man and an expert in Scottish children’s literature. After he retired he worked on the ASLS Education Committee where he helped to develop a lot of materials for Scottish schools. His knowledge of Scottish culture and language was enormous and that is reflected in this collection.”
A gold medal winner as an undergraduate student at the University of Glasgow, Mr Alison chose to go into teaching rather than academia and became a deputy head teacher in Aberdeen before becoming the lead HMI inspector for English in Scotland.
“As an inspector he was thorough, kind and encouraging and was highly-respected,” said Renton. “He did a lot of work to ensure Scottish literature has its proper place in schools. He recognised that the cultural part of any country is important as it gives people self confidence. If kids realise that what they have in their culture is worthwhile then they don’t feel at the bottom of the heap.”
The books, rather appropriately, were uplifted for shipment on St Andrew’s Day and are due at the university next week.
ASLS President Alison Lumsden, Professor of English and Scottish Literature at the University of Aberdeen, said the association was “delighted” to support the initiative.
“Jim was the most generous of colleagues and he was passionate about both Scottish literature and education,” she said. “We were all saddened by his death but seeing his collection of Scottish books sent to India to support Scottish studies is a wonderful legacy.
“One of the core aims of ASLS is the promotion of Scottish literature internationally and it is gratifying to see the way it is now being appreciated and studied in many places across the world. That Jim’s legacy can contribute to that is very fitting.
“The ASLS thank Jim’s family for providing this opportunity and the Scottish Government for their support of our work.”
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