Motilalji Sanghi

Motilalji Sanghi, also known as Master Motilalji, was an Indian schoolteacher, tutor, and librarian known for founding the Sanmati Pustakalaya public library in Jaipur, Rajasthan. After serving as a schoolteacher for 30 years, he allocated half of his monthly pension to accumulate a collection of books which would serve as the foundation for the Sanmati Pustakalaya. Motilalji personally delivered books to members of the community, supervised their studies, and maintained the library on his own until his death in 1949. Over the course of his librarianship, the library grew from 1,500 to 30,000 volumes. In 1972, Motilalji was memorialized with a bust at the Sanmati Pustakalaya. S. R. Ranganthan prepared a speech for the unveiling which was given posthumously. Motilalji is remembered as having a pioneering role in the public library movement in India.

Early life and education Motilalji Sanghi was born on April 25, 1876, in the town of Chomu in Jaipur district, Rajasthan. He was married as a child at the age of nine to a wife who was only five. He attended school in Chomu through the sixth grade, the highest level of schooling available in the town, after which he transferred to a high school in Jaipur. In 1897, he matriculated in the University of Allahabad but dropped out in 1899.

Career After leaving university, Motilalji supported himself by tutoring until 1906. On October 27, 1907, he became the headmaster of the Vernacular Middle School of Jaipur which closed down within the next year. Assistant teacher at Maharaja Collegiate High School. On July 20, 1917, he transferred to another assistant teacher position at Shivapole Middle School. In July 1925, he transferred once again to Chandpole High School where he would continue to teach mathematics until 1937. He retired in November that year, after 30 years of government service, on a monthly pension of ₹20 (Indian rupees).

In 1972, a bust of Motilalji was unveiled at the Sanmati Pustakalaya library. S. R. Ranganathan had recorded a speech to be given at the unveiling ceremony which was transcribed only a few weeks before his death. In 1973, the Sanmati Pustakalaya trust published a festschrift in Motilalji's honor.

Motilalji is recognized as having played a leading role in the library movement in India.