The Rampur Raza Library is one of the important libraries of the World. Besides works relating to different religions, traditions, it is a treasure house of Indo-Islamic learning and arts. This library was founded by Nawab Faizullah Khan in 1774. The Nawabs of Rampur were great patrons of learning and the learned ulema, poets, painters, calligraphers and musicians - enjoyed their patronage. After the indepandence of India and merger of the state in the union of India, the library was brought under the management of the trust, which was created on 6th April, 1951. Professor Saiyid Nurul Hasan, former Minister of Education Government of India, brought this library under an Act of Parliament on 1st. July, 1975. The Chairman of the board is Honourable Governor of Uttar Pradesh. It is having around 17000 manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Pashto, Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi and Turkish languages. Moreover, it possesses a good collection of paintings and palm leaves in various Indian languages. A collection of around 60,000 printed books in various Indian and foreign languages are also available.
There are two landmarks in the Islamic world in the field of Cataloguing - Ibn Nadeem's - Al-Fehrist and Haji Khalifa's - Kashfaz Zanoon. Raza Library is having rich collection of manuscripts and prepared its catalogues. Ahmed Ali Shauq wrote a book titled - Kitab Khana-i-Rampur, which was published in 1998. It shows that first, list of the manuscripts and books was prepared during the period of Nawab Kalbe Ali Khan (1865-87). It seems to be the first proper list of the collection of Raza Library.
In 1888, Maulana Shibli Nomani visited this library and submitted a comprehensive report titled - "Report Mutaliq Kutub Khana-i-Riyasat Aliya Mustafabad, Rampur" dated 14th October, 1888. He pointed out the problems of the catalogues of Raza Library. Then he again visited Raza Library on 6th April, 1914. On the basis of this report Nawab Mushtaq Ali Khan (1887-89) directed the staff of the library to prepare the new Catalogue of the Manuscripts of the library in the light of the suggestions of Maulana Shibli Nomani. This catalogue bears the following columns.
1. Nam-i-Fan (Name of the subject)
2. Number Shumar (Number)
3. Nam-i-Kitab (Name of the book)
4. Nam-i-Musannif (Author's Name)
5. Zaban (Language)
6. Qalmi/Chhapa (Manuscript or Printed)
7. Kaifiyat (Condition)
Following scholars were deputed to work for the cataloguing of manuscripts and published books of Raza Library, Maulana Hafeezullah. Maulana Muhammad Taiyab, Principal Madarasa-i-Aliya, Maulana Fazl-i-Haq Rampuri, Maulvi Zahoorul Hasan, Maulvi Majduddin and Maulvi Fasihuz Zaman. This catalogue was having classification of books on the subject.
In 1897 Haifz Ahmed Ali Shauq was appointed in the library and under supervision of Hakim Ajmal Khan, prepared the list of Arabic books based on subject, there are stock registers and the list of books which was prepared during the period of Nawab Hamid Ali Khan (1889-1930) by Munshi Amir Meenai, Munshi Abdur Rahim and Mehi Ali Khan, Munsarim of Raza Library in 1889. This register bears the signature of all the three persons. Now this register itself has become a manuscript. Alphabetic order is followed for the listing of books. It is having 9347 books. But in 1904 on Nawab Hamid Ali Khan's suggestion a new register was prepared. Ahmed Ali Shauq writes that, "During the period Nawab Khuld Ashiyhan (Nawab Kalbe Ali Khan) a register was prepared in three parts." this list was based on alphabetic order but the classification based on subject, was not beief followed. This register is having both the manuscripts and published books together. This catalogue was published in 1902. It is having details about the manuscript. Then he prepared the second and third volumes of the catalogues with more modifications which were published in 1928. These two catalogues are more detailed and descriptive. He had takes inspiration from the Catalogue of manuscripts published by British Museum, London. He himself mentions that this was done by Maulana Muhammad Nabi, Registrar Kutub KJ. have and Maulana Abdullah Amratsari also contributed in this work. But these catalogues have were having manuscripts and books together. These catalogues were written in Urdu language Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Former Minister of Education, Government of India, visited Raza Library in 1952 and he also suggested for the compilation of catalogue of manuscripts and printed books.
Hakim Ajmal Khan was appointed as Afsar-i-Ala of Raza Library by Nawab Hamid Ali Khan. Under Hakim Ajmal Khan's patronage the first volume of Arabic manuscripts was compiled and published in 1902. Then Hafiz Ahmed Ali Khan Shauq (b.1862) was appointed as the librarian of Raza Library in 1905. He worked on Cataloguing of the manuscripts of the library. He compiled the second and third volume of Arabic manuscripts, which were published in 1928 and 1929 in urdu. He prepared this catalogue on the pattern of catalogue of manuscripts published by British Museum, London.
In 1932, Maulana Imtiyaz Ali Khan Arshi took over the charge as Nazim-i-Kuitub Khana. He was an eminent scholar and took keen interest in the collection of the Library. He took up the task of the compilation of Catalogue of Arabic manuscripts of Raza Library. compiled and published six volumes of Catalogues of Arabic manuscripts. Maulana Imtiyaz Ali Khan Arshi rearranged the collection of the library and separated manuscripts from the published works based on subject. Instead of doing cataloguing in Urdu, Maulana Imtiyaz Ali Khan Arshi compiled the catalogue of Arabic manuscripts in English so that larger section of scholars could be benefitted. Mr. Imtiyaz Ali Khan Arshi, writes in his preface dated 26th November, 1963 that, "This is the first volume of Catalogue of Arabic manuscripts preserved in Raza Library, Rampur." Mr. D.M. Sinha, IAS, Secretary, Raza Library Trust, writes in his introduction dated 27th November, 1963 that, "Since long the need for publishing in English a Descriptive Catalogue of the manuscripts of Raza Library, Rampur, was felt by oriental scholars all over the world. Fortunately the Ministry of Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, Government of India, sanctioned a grant for publishing a Catalogue of Arabic and Persian manuscripts. With their aid, which we acknowledge with thanks, we have been able to place before oriental scholars the first volume of this catalogue of Arabic manuscripts.
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