How India's food shortage enriched US libraries
India utilised local currency to procure US grain, later using the funds to purchase books for US universities.
In 1996, Ananya Vajpeyi, then a doctoral student, encountered the renowned South Asia collection at the University of Chicago's Regenstein Library.
"I've spent time in leading South Asia libraries at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Columbia. But nothing compares to the endless riches at the University of Chicago," said Vajpeyi, now a fellow at India's Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
The University of Chicago, a 132-year-old institution, houses over 800,000 volumes related to South Asia, making it one of the foremost collections for regional studies. But how did this extensive repository of South Asian literature end up in the US?
The PL-480 programme
The answer lies in Public Law 480 (PL-480), also known as the Food for Peace programme, a Cold War-era initiative launched in 1954. Signed into law by President Dwight D Eisenhower, PL-480 allowed countries like India to purchase US grain with their local currency, alleviating foreign exchange pressures while reducing American agricultural surpluses.
India, grappling with severe food shortages in the 1950s and 1960s, became one of the largest recipients of this aid. The local currency generated through these transactions was later made available to participating US universities at minimal cost. These funds were then used to purchase books, periodicals, phonograph records, and other media in Indian languages, significantly enriching the collections of over 20 US universities, including the University of Chicago. (Manuscripts were excluded due to Indian antiquity laws.)
"PL-480 has had extraordinary and unexpected consequences for the University of Chicago and more than 30 other US libraries," James Nye, director of the Digital South Asia Library at the University of Chicago, told the BBC.
Building a South Asian treasure trove
In 1959, a special team of 60 staff members was established in Delhi to procure materials for the programme. Initially focusing on government publications, the effort expanded over five years to include books and periodicals. By 1968, 20 US universities were receiving materials from the growing collection.
According to Maureen LP Patterson, a prominent bibliographer of South Asian studies, sourcing books from India's vast and linguistically diverse landscape was a challenging task. A network of booksellers from various publishing hubs, each specialising in specific languages, was engaged to ensure comprehensive coverage. The final selections were made by the Delhi office.
Initially, the programme aimed to collect a broad range of Indian fiction in all languages, but by 1963, the focus shifted to research-level material, significantly narrowing the intake of general fiction. By 1966, over 750,000 books and periodicals had been sent to US universities, with India contributing more than 633,000 items.
A double-edged legacy
The programme's success has sparked debates about its long-term impact. Todd Michelson-Ambelang, librarian for South Asian studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, raises concerns about the potential depletion of literary resources in South Asia. While many works remain available in the region, challenges such as poor preservation, pests, and inadequate environmental controls have resulted in significant losses.
In contrast, Western libraries have preserved these materials meticulously, but accessibility remains an issue. Michelson-Ambelang notes that copyright restrictions and institutional policies often limit access to researchers outside these institutions, perpetuating disparities.
End of the programme and its aftermath
The PL-480 programme ended in the 1980s, transferring the financial burden to American libraries. Today, institutions like the University of Chicago spend over $100,000 annually on acquisitions from the Library of Congress field office in Delhi.
Despite its controversies, Vajpeyi sees the books-for-grain exchange as a positive outcome. Her research at the University of Chicago spanned multiple languages and disciplines, offering unparalleled access to resources. "The books are safe, valued, and accessible here," she said.
"In India, libraries often suffer from neglect, destruction, or inaccessibility. At Regenstein, I always found what I needed. The story in India is often disheartening, but these books have been preserved and remain invaluable."
