New Delhi, May 15, 2025 — A fierce fire tore through the central library of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (SGGSCC) on Thursday, shocking Delhi’s academic circles and reigniting the debate on infrastructure neglect in public colleges. Flames engulfed the iconic library building in Pitampura just before 9 AM, destroying thousands of books and halting college operations indefinitely.
Fire services responded with urgency, deploying 10 fire tenders to combat the inferno. No casualties were reported, but the emotional and academic toll has been immense.
🔹 Cracks in the System: Safety Ignored
What shocked many was the ease with which the fire spread. According to internal reports and fire department assessments, the library had:
- No active smoke detection systems
- Broken fire extinguishers
- Blocked emergency exits
- Poor electrical maintenance
Students and staff had raised concerns in the past, especially following a minor electrical mishap in 2023, but repairs remained pending due to budget constraints.
“This wasn’t just an accident—it was negligence,” said Saumya Sethi, a student union representative. “We flagged fire safety gaps in meetings, but nothing was done.”
🔹 Intellectual Infrastructure Obliterated
The SGGSCC library’s collections weren’t limited to course textbooks. It was a curated intellectual space, offering access to:
- Competitive exam prep books
- Business case studies
- Digitized records from economic conferences
- Manuscripts on Sikh ethics and business philosophy
These resources empowered students from modest backgrounds to dream bigger. Many relied solely on the library for learning due to limited personal resources.
“This fire will widen the academic divide,” said Dr. Seema Ahuja, a retired DU professor. “Institutions like SGGSCC level the playing field. Their loss affects society, not just students.”
🔹 A Community in Mourning and Action
In a symbolic gesture, students gathered at the college entrance holding placards reading “Books Don’t Burn, Systems Do” and “Rebuild with Responsibility.” The college organized a prayer meeting, and classes have been suspended until further notice.
The administration has launched an immediate action plan:
- Partnering with online libraries like JSTOR, NDL India, and Shodhganga
- Creating a temporary e-library zone with digital workstations
- Inviting donations of books and academic resources
The college is also developing a mobile app to facilitate access to digital resources while the new library is built.
🔹 Systemic Reform: More Than a Wake-up Call
The SGGSCC incident has prompted a systemic reckoning. Education policy experts have recommended the following reforms:
- Annual fire audits linked to UGC accreditation
- Mandatory disaster management drills in campuses
- Incentivized infrastructure grants tied to safety upgrades
- Digitization mandates for all DU-affiliated libraries
Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Prof. Yogesh Singh, said:
“This is not just SGGSCC’s tragedy. It’s a university-wide alarm. We will be enforcing reforms immediately.”
🔹 Hope in the Aftermath
Despite the immense loss, the response from the public has been heartening. Leading publishers have offered free subscriptions to e-resources. Alumni are donating both money and books. Even rival colleges have offered temporary resource-sharing agreements.
“There’s fire in our hearts to restore what we’ve lost,” said Principal Dr. Jaswinder Singh. “We will rebuild not just the library but a stronger academic future.”