The first librarian of the Indian National Library (in the sense used in most competitive exams and library-science discussions) is Sri B. S. Kesavan.

Quick Scoop: Who was the first librarian of Indian National Library?

To unpack this a bit, there are actually two closely related institutions and “firsts” that often confuse students:

  • The Imperial Library in Kolkata, which is the colonial-era predecessor of the National Library.
  • The National Library of India (post‑Independence), formally recognized as the country’s national library.

Most authoritative exam and reference sources treat:

  • John Macfarlane as the first Librarian of the Imperial Library.
  • Harinath (Harinath) De as the second librarian and the first Indian librarian of the Imperial Library.
  • B. S. Kesavan (Bellary Shamanna Kesavan) as the first National Librarian of independent India / first Librarian of the National Library of India , taking charge soon after Independence (around March 31, 1948, tenure 1947–1962).

So when an exam or forum question asks:

“Who was the first librarian of Indian National Library?”

the expected correct answer is B. S. Kesavan.

Some coaching/QA sites mention “B. Gopinath” as an answer, but this is not supported by mainstream historical or government-linked references and is generally considered incorrect or at least non-standard for competitive exam purposes.

Mini Facts (for revision)

  • Name: B. S. Kesavan (Bellary Shamanna Kesavan)
  • Role: First National Librarian of independent India / first Librarian of the National Library of India.
  • Start of tenure: Around March 31, 1948, shortly after Independence.
  • Reputation: Often called the Father of Indian National Bibliography for launching the Indian National Bibliography.

If you’re answering an exam or quiz, mark B. S. Kesavan as the first librarian of the Indian National Library.

Note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.