WALTER SYKES GEORGE COLLECTION
The IIC Library collection encompasses a rich and varied universe of printed volumes, digital resources, maps, media and rare book materials. Its print collection numbers 54,565, with 5,529 of them being media collection, besides rare books collection. The Library subscribes to 166 magazines, academic journals, and national and international newspapers.
The Library is known for its collection strength in the social sciences and humanities. Besides general books, other available subject collections are in the fields of philosophy, psychology, religion, social sciences, sociology, anthropology, statistics, political science, international relations, economics, law, public administration, military science, social problems and social services, education, commerce, communications and transportation, customs, etiquette and folklore, language, linguistics and literature. A few books on the pure sciences, which include technology, medicine and health, engineering, agriculture, home and family management, management and public relations, arts, architecture, sculpture, decorative arts, painting, graphic art, photography, music, sports, games and entertainment, history, geography, maps and travel, biography and genealogy also form part of the collection.
India Collection
The India Collection consists of rare books, maps and documents on British India, numbering 3,024. The books cover a wide range of subjects, including British books on Indian history, archaeology, art and architecture, geography, the natural sciences, medicine and medical histories. Translations from the original Persian works relating to Mughal history form part of the collection. Most of these books were originally published between the 17th and 20th centuries. The earliest publication in the collection is a valuable edition of Philip Baldaeus’ True and Exact Description of the Most Celebrated East India Coasts of Malabar and Coromandel, printed in 1672. Also included is Col. Tod’s Annals of Rajasthan, published in 1829. The collection holds books authored by Mildred Archer, B. H. Baden Powell, A. L. Basham, J. Bradshaw, Percy Brown, R. Forbes, M. Wheeler, among others. There is also a valuable collection of journals, newspapers, dictionaries and lexicons on various Indian languages and dialects.
Himalayan Club Collection
The Himalayan Collection consists of 1,778 old and new books on mountaineering, sport, travel and adventure, atlases, maps, and on subjects pertaining to Himalayan ecology and peoples. Well-known books authored by William Douglas, L. J. Mackintosh, Markham Frederick, Fanny Parks, Giuseppe Tucci and F. E. Younghusband form part of this collection.
Bilgrami Collection
The special section of reference and rare books on Indian studies, donated by Sayeed Bilgrami, is called the Bilgrami Collection. It consists of about 700 books on history, travel, biography, literature, philosophy, religion, customs and folklore.
Walter Sykes George Collection
Walter Sykes George was an English architect who worked in India during the first half of the 20th century. He was part of the team of Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker who designed New Delhi, the new capital of India. Walter George and his colleagues helped to establish the first training facility for architects in north India, and the Department of Architecture came into existence as part of Delhi Polytechnic at Kashmere Gate in 1942. He was instrumental in designing the first theatre, ‘Regal’, at Connaught Place, and several other projects, including Sujan Singh Park, Ambassador Hotel, among others. Walter George’s precious collection has been conserved and preserved in special boxes created for the purpose.
Dr. C. D. Deshmukh Collection
Dr. C. D. Deshmukh was the first President of the India International Centre. The Deshmukh collection holds about 1,200 photographs collected by him, in addition to correspondence, press clippings, cartoons appearing in leading newspapers and magazines, personal diaries, awards, the convocation robe used by Dr. Deshmukh, awards and medals, commendation letters, and miscellaneous papers and files. Comprehensive documentation work has been undertaken by the Library.
