Ashes of Knowledge: Devastating Library Fire Hits Delhi’s Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce

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New Delhi, May 15, 2025 — A tragic fire swept through the library of Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (SGGSCC) in Delhi’s Pitampura area on Thursday morning, destroying thousands of academic resources and rare manuscripts. Though no lives were lost, the intellectual and historical damage has been described as “incalculable.”

🔹 Timeline of the Tragedy

At around 8:55 AM, administrative staff noticed smoke emerging from the third floor of the four-storey library building. Within minutes, flames spread rapidly due to the large amount of paper material and wooden fixtures inside. Firefighters from the Delhi Fire Services arrived promptly and battled the blaze for nearly four hours before declaring it under control.

An official from DFS confirmed,

“The fire most likely originated due to an electrical malfunction. We are examining CCTV footage and wiring layouts to determine the exact cause.”

🔹 What Was Lost?

The SGGSCC library was known for its rich academic collection, hosting over 55,000 volumes of books, periodicals, and rare documents. A highlight was its Sikh Centre for Inter-Faith Studies, which contained centuries-old religious texts, including inter-faith commentaries and scriptures.

Also affected were:

Digitized student records
Final-year projects and research files
Archives of scholarly publications
Subscription journals (economic, commerce, and public policy)

“Academic institutions are built around their libraries,” said Professor Harneet Kaur, Dean of Academics. “This is not just a financial loss; it’s cultural and intellectual devastation.”

🔹 Government and Community Support

Delhi’s Education Minister, Atishi Marlena, visited the campus and assured swift action. She announced a ₹5 crore emergency relief grant to the institution and directed all colleges in Delhi to conduct a fire safety audit within 15 days.

Several alumni of the college expressed solidarity on social media and pledged donations. An online fundraiser, launched within hours, has already raised over ₹12 lakh to aid in rebuilding efforts.

🔹 Voices from the Campus

“I lost all my notes, and I don’t know how we’ll prepare for exams now,” said Kunal Mehra, a B.Com. student. “The library was our second home.”

Others echoed similar sentiments. “We would spend 6–8 hours a day here. Everything was accessible, from economics textbooks to career guides,” shared Srishti Jain, a third-year student.

Faculty members also shared their frustrations. “This could’ve been prevented,” said Dr. Varun Kapoor, who teaches Finance. “Routine safety checks are often skipped in public colleges. This must change.”

🔹 Reconstruction and the Road Ahead

In a press release, SGGSCC authorities announced their commitment to rebuilding a modern, resilient library, with improved fire safety systems, cloud data backups, and smart shelving. A temporary digital library and study space will be made available for students during the reconstruction phase.

While the flames have been doused, the emotional and academic impact will linger for months to come. This tragedy has reignited the conversation on campus infrastructure safety and highlighted the urgency of digitizing and protecting educational archives across India.