Official Website of Delhi Library Association

Third Lecture:- 28th August 2005
Ranganathan - Live and Real.
Prof. B Guha

INTRODUCTION

The main objective of such memorial lectures is, obviously, to propagate the ideals of great men and bind the younger generation in a professional cord of affinity. So far as Ranganathan Memorial Lectures are concerned it has been customary to invite speakers from amongst the library and information professionals who happened to have interacted with. him extensively and could enlighten the younger generation about his life and work, the rich legacy of path breaking ideas that he has bequeathed to posterity.

The choice in the selection of speakers, as per the above criteria, is surely becoming increasingly restricted for obvious reasons. In fact, such professionals who had extensive interaction with Ranganathan have now been reduced to a rare species, on the verge of extinction. No wonder, being a member of this rare species, I have been invited to deliver the Ranganathan Memorial Lecture three times within the span of a decade. These lectures, of course, have been under the sponsorship of three different agencies - the first one was IASLIC at Kolkata, the second one was the Ranganathan Research Circle, Delhi and now the third lecture under the auspices of the Delhi Library Association, which incidentally happens to be Association's third lecture also in the series.

In the course of this lecture, I am going to talk on the life and work of a person who has been an icon, a patriarch, and a colossus to many in the world community of library and information professionals. I am tempted to recall here my experience of being discovered that I knew Dr Ranganathan as I was his student. The occasion was my participation in a Documentation course sponsored by Unesco. There were participants from the South and South Asian countries and the course was held in Japan in 1970. For most of the participants in the course, the name Ranganathan was familiar but their knowledge about the man and his contributions was very sketchy. The presence of a student of Ranganathan in the class naturally aroused their curiosity and they started asking me many questions about the legendary man's Colon Classification, Chain Indexing, Mnemonics, etc and also his teaching techniques, dress, habits, and so on. I explained all these through informal discussions with the participants. I had to explain the traditional Indian Teaching - learning institution (i.e. Gurukul) and teacher student relationship prevailing therein. Some of the participants openly said that they considered me to be an extremely lucky person to be so close to a great man like Ranganathan. With Ranganathan, I too became an object of some veneration. I realized how blessed I was. The present audience, I am aware is quite different. Library and information professionals in Delhi are far more influenced by the ideas of Ranganathan than their counterparts in many of the places in the country. Consider for a moment the syllabi of the LIS courses of Delhi University, INSDOC (Presently NISCAIR) and Delhi Library Association. All of them bear the unmistakable imprint of Ranganathan's influence. Even then, I would refrain from indulging in any esoteric exposition of Ranganathan's ideas or contributions. There are many sources for such expositions written by more competent persons. A great man's memories are always over whelming and to present them in a coherent manner before a knowledgeable audience, one easily realizes one's inadequacies. I would rather try to present before you Ranganathan 'live and real' as I have seen him in his work and through interactions with him.

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2 RANGANAHAN COMES TO DELHI

Most of us in Delhi and other places in North India came in contact with SRR since 1947, when he came over to the University of Delhi. It appears to be amazing when we recall that he was already a retired person when he joined Delhi University. Like any ordinary mortal, he could have easily opted for a slow paced, hassle-free, peaceful retired life with routine of visit to temples, worship and prayers, attending religious discourses and soon. But his philosophy of life was different. Like a true 'karma yogi' he believed in the maxim of’ Work is Worship'. Willingly, SRR accepted to start afresh and play a second innings, so to say. He was about 54 years of age. We used to wonder, where the patriarch got his energy and inspiration from and the strength to go through a rigorous routine of teaching work, professional writing and editorial work, discussions with colleagues and professionals, and other campus activities.

I distinctly remember, SRR once told our class, on finding that most of us had come without doing a small piece of home work, that he would refuse to be spoilt, at his age by the company of such young but lazy people. Such was his disdain for any slackness in work, specially in young people who had in them the natural youth energy in abundance. He was extremely sensitive to such wastage or misuse of energy. His psychology was some how akin to what we saw in the old man in the famous fiction of Ernest Hemmingway, "The Old Man and the Sea".

2.1 PRELUDE TO COMING OVER TO DELHI

Allow me for a while to go back a little and see what SRR was doing just before he decided to come over to Delhi and in what frame of mind he came here. From a paper by S Parthasarathy, we learn that SRR got frustrated as he started facing many hurdles at the Madras University Library, which he had built up with his dedicated work for over 21 years. Support from the higher authorities was also not available. In his frustration, he was looking for solace in the teachings of spiritual leaders and seers. However, he could hardly find the comfort and solace he was looking for. He got disillusioned. Finally, one of

the spiritual leaders, Sri Purohit Swamy, advised SRR to get involved deeply in his own subject, which would bring him peace of mind. In the meantime he took voluntary retirement in 1945, as his place of work was made too hot for him.

In the same year, SRR was invited by Dr S Radhakrishnan, the Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, to take up the post of University Librarian there. That gave him an opportunity to follow the advice of the spiritual leader, that was mentioned earlier. However, his stay at Banaras was not a useful one. He found the place hostile to him, as the library staff would not cooperate with him. Although he worked hard to classify the entire collection according to Colon Classification, he had to leave the job in disgust in 1947. So, in a way his period offrustration continued. .

2.2 SRR BEGINS WORK IN DELHI UNIVERSITY

The above interruption was intended to bring home the point that neither the lure of a peaceful retired life, nor the frustration and disenchantment of work place could keep away SRR from taking up new assignment and responsibilities. That is how he accepted the Delhi University assignment.

In 1947, a few months before our Independence, SRR joined the University of Delhi at the invitation of the Vice Chancellor, Sir Maurice Gwyer. This time his specific assignment was for developing a Department of Library Science, which was very much to his linking. He was given a free hand in this work. The working atmosphere too was congenial, as three of former students and a former colleague from the Madras University Library were already in the Delhi University Library. SRR along with his three colleagues were given accommodation in the University Colony (Maurice Nagar). He could conveniently discuss things with his colleagues, not only in office but at his house in the evening and inevitably also during morning walks;

Altogether, this was the most congenial atmosphere for serious work that one could ask for.

SRR was in Delhi University from 1947 to 1955. This was a very fruitful period for him and naturally for our profession also. So far as his specific assignment is concerned; it had a smooth beginning. After the necessary groundwork, by way of designing the course structure, the syllabus, locating the teachers, assigning them the relevant areas of teaching and practical work, a Post Graduate Bachelor's Degree in Library Science (Diploma Course to begin with) was started in 1948. All the teachers were from the University Library. Very soon, SRR got the approval from the University for starting M Lib Sc course and a Ph D programme for research work.

2.3 ASSOCIATION'S WORK AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Before coming over to Delhi, SRR became the president of the Indian Library Association (ILA). Here, the activities of the Association also shifted with him to the Delhi University. SRR conceived of a new professional periodical for the Association which was titled as ABGlLA (Annals, Bulletin, Granthalayaofthe Indian Library Association). SRR nourished and edited this periodical with great care and devotion. He used to spend considerable time for its sustenance.

During the same period ILA received three important Unesco projects which were handled by SRR with the help of his colleagues, local library professionals, and students. The projects were:

(a) Bibliographical Survey of India; (b) Directory of Indian Libraries; and

South-East Asia.

The above activities on behalf of the ILA surely helped SRR to remain in the centre stage of our professional life of our country for some time.

2.4 WORK FOR INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES

While in Delhi, SRR's talent and good work had attracted the attention of many and some international agencies started inviting him or assign professional responsibilities. At the invitation of Donker Duyvis, Secretary General of FID, SRR prepared a comprehensive paper on "Classification and International Documentation", which was published by FrD and was very well received by the international community of library and information professionals.

SRR was made the Rapporteur-General of FID/CA (Committee on General Theory of Classification) and later Honorary Chairman of FID/ CR(Committee on Classification Research). For both these committees he prepared technical reports representing his current thinking and observations on classification-ion research. In recognition of his contributions, SRR was made an Honorary Member of FID, which was a rare distinction. He became associated with Unesco's Documentation activities also. He was a Member of the International Advisory Committee on Bibliography of Unesco during 1950-51.

The British Council sponsored for SRR a tour of Europe and USA in 1948.This tour was extremely beneficial both for SRR and also a large number of library and information professionals and 'students abroad, who got the opportunity, for the first time, to listen to and interact with a person whose name and fame in the profession had reached their shores ahead of the person himself.

After the tour mentioned above, SRR had many more foreign visits which need not be discussed here, as my focus here is on what exactly SRR had achieved during his stay in Delhi. From what have been said so far, it would be evident that while in Delhi, SRR had started attaining the position of a leader in the profession in the country and the image of an eminent scholar and thinker in the discipline of Library and Information Science internationally.

2.5 RANGANATHAN IN THE CAMPUS

While in Delhi University SRR came very close to Sir Maurice Gwyer, who had very high regard for him. SRR was consulted on many university affairs and on occasions he was even sent to Education Ministry for getting sanction and funds for the University projects. He even attended the Commonwealth Universities Conference, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, at Oxford in 1948. In the same year, SRR was awarded an honorary degree of D Litt (Honoris Causa) by the University of Delhi, along with eminent personalities such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Zakir Hussain, VKRV Rao and K S Krishnan. Even this brief account of Campus life will make it clear. that SRR was an important academic person in the campus and was held in high esteem.

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3 OTHER ACTIVITIES IN DELHI

As has been mentioned earlier, SRR's stay in Delhi was quite eventful and his achievements were substantial. Apart from his work in the Dept of Library Science, ILA secretariat work, ABGILA editing and publication," report writing for international agencies, his own writing work and the like, it' would be appropriate to take note of three more achievements of SRR which have been of national importance. These were:

(a) Setting up and development of a National Documentation Centre;

(b) Preparation of Bibliographic standards; and

It may be recalled that, SRR arrived in Delhi a few months before our Independence. It was a period when our political leaders, social activists, academics and others interested in national development in different sectors were all busy in drawing up long term development plans in their respective fields. It was a period of great enthusiasm, seen in all fields. At the national level the National Planning Committee constituted by the Indian National Congress had started its work quite early. SRR realized that in the Library and Information field also plans had to be drawn up and kept ready for implementation as and when required.

3.1 A NATIONAL DOCUMENTATION CENTRE FOR INDIA

SRR visualized the need for a National Documentation Centre in free India quite early. Such a centre was conceived to be a national focal point for receiving information products and services, technical assistance and aids from international agencies and similar centers in other countries and at the same time would provide documentation services within the country and channelise Indian information and bibliographical services and products to other countries. The plan proposal for such a centre, prepared by SRR, moved through a number of ministries and the Departments of the Government of India. Finally, it attracted the attention of Dr S S Bhatnagar, the Director General of CISR, who steered the plan to get the approval of the Government of India and also receive technical assistance from Unesco. The centre was named as INSDOC and started functioning in 1952 under the administrative control of the Director, National Physical Laboratory. SRR was made the Chairman of its Advisory Committee.

3.2 PUBLIC LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT

Coming to the work of developing public library plan for free India, it may be mentioned that SRR's main interest in the library field had always been in the area of public library service. On his first visit to England in 1924, SRR was very much impressed by the network of public libraries and their services. Since then he had a latent desire to make available such services within the reach of every Indian. As the opportune moment came with the attainment of our freedom, SRR prepared an elaborate 20-year national development plan for public library system. The plan had every details of levels of libraries and services, administration, finances, manpower, a draft bill, etc. In the preface to the book containing the plan, SRR mentioned that he was launching a paper boat in the hope that someday somebody will pick it up and use it for the benefit of our people. However, that was not to be. Obviously, our Government had to follow a different order of national priorities, where provision of public library service had a very .lowly position.

3.3 STANDARDS FOR LIBRARY/DOCUMENTATION WORK

The third activity was relating to the preparation of national standards. Our Government had envisaged considerable boost in industrial and scientific activities in the country with the attainment of independence. To support such activities, it was necessary to formulate and publish national standards in different fields. To realise this, the Indian Standards Institution (IS!) was setup with Dr Lal C Burman as its first Director. Dr Burman picked up SRR to be the Chairman ofEC2: Subcommittee on Documentation. It so happened that this was only the second Subcommittee of the ISL Under the guidance ofSRR, the EC2 Subcommittee prepared a number of standards within a short period and earned the appreciation of everybody.

3.4 REMAINDER OF DELHI PHASE

Before leaving this phase ofSRR in Delhi, I would like to draw your attention to two important institutions with which SRR was associated with in some way. Firstly, the Delhi Public Library, which was a Unesco project in the creation of which SRR had taken some part. I remember those days when preliminary work of the project was going on and SRR's involvement in planning and negotiations. Some prospective librarians of the proposed library were also frequently on view with SRR. Incidentally, Unesco's Regional Office was also located in the Delhi University in those days.

Secondly, the Delhi Library Association (DLA) under whose banner we have assembled, was the other beneficiary. Although the DLA was established earlier, it was in a morbid state for quite some time. It was only during the presence of SRR in Delhi, that some of his students book the initiative to rejuvenate it to be a proper professional association. DLA had the blessings of

SRR and he remained a patron of it throughout his life. DLA' s lasting tribute to the memory of the great man and also a mark of deep respect of the Delhi librarians have been expressed in the naming of this place as the Ranganathan Bhawan. Perhaps someday this may become a place of pilgrimage for all librarians and information workers.

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4 MY ASSOCITON AND CONTACT WITH SRR

From here on I shall be talking about my own contacts and interactions with SRR and some of my observations and impressions. It may be noted that I have been in Delhi since my school days and Graduated from Hindu College in 1947, the same year when SRR came over to Delhi. In those days, Hindu College had a unique institution in the form of a college parliament. Celebrities of those days, often used to be invited to come and address the students or rather the Members of Parliament. One day to the surprise of many of us, one S R Ranganathan, a librarian by profession was invited to the parliament. He explained why he considered the library as a powerhouse rather than the more familiar description of it as a storehouse of knowledge. He also explained why more such powerhouses will have to be setup for the all round development of our country in free India. That was how I saw and listened to SRR for the first time.

4.1 INDUCTION INTO LIBRARY SCIENCE COURSE

Soon after that, I completed my BA and joined MA course in economics, not by choice but because I had nothing else to do. This was the period immediately after independence and the consequent partition. The whole country was in turmoil, but there were promises of change and better opportunities also. In that environment, my aimless drifting in the MA course became increasingly unbearable. I felt I needed a change. In those days MA classes in Economics were held in the University only. In my search for a change, one day I went to S Das Gupta, the University Librarian, to get some information about the library science course which was newly started. I learnt from him that Dr Ranganathan had joined the Department of Library Science. I recalled the speech I had listened to at the Hindu College and decided to join the Library Science course. That was how the impact of one lecture of SRR helped me to take a positive and bold decision.

My experience in the new course was completely different from that in the MA or earlier courses. In the Library Science course, the class was much smaller, there were more interactions between teachers and students, lectures were more informal in nature and students had a lot of practical work to do. Above all, the entire library students had a lot of practical work to do. Above all, the entire library was at our disposal. In due course I completed my M Lib Sc in 1950.

4.2 TEACHING TECHNIQUE OF SRR

It may be mentioned at the outset that SRR never taught us classification or cataloguing. He was teaching us Reference Service & Bibliography and Library Administration.

I remember one topic, in particular, which he covered quite extensively. The topic was on classes of bibliography discussed by different authors, SRR came to his own concept of classes, which he called the "Economic Bibliographical" chain of bibliography. The remarkable thing about the topic was that, it was entirely by the students themselves in the class. SRR's role was that of a guide, supplying additional information when required and putting incisive questions to keep us on track. At the end of the whole exercise, every student had a feeling of useful participation and everyone felt that, he / she had made some contribution. For the first time we came to know that there could be something like Authors' Bibliography under the broader class of Consumers' Bibliography. Year later, when a completely new indexing tool, the Science Citation Index (SCI) appeared, I could easily recognize 'that it was only a kind of Author's Bibliography in a new package. Each unit item in it continues to be created by author as consumers.

4.2 INFLUENCE OF RAMAYANA

SRR was indeed deeply absorbed in the sublimity of Ramayana in those days. Even to explain the concept and usefulness of Authors' Bibliography, SRR borrowed a beautiful simile from the Ramayana. He wrote "Authors resemble Sabari, who herself tasted everything in collecting offerings to the Lord, Shri Ram...Their [authors'] bibliography is like the plums of Sabari, tasted by themselves and yet meant for distribution".

We learn from S Parthasarathy that SRR's deep attachment to the Ramayana was created during his school days, in Shiyali, through the influence of two persons. They were SRR's headlmaster, P A Subramania Aiyar, an erudite scholar, and the second person was T Sundaracharian, a lawyer and schQlar in Vedic literature. It appears, SRR also influenced others with his fond infatuation. Here are two examples. To describe the correct attitude of the reference librarian, SRR quoted some words, said to have been spoken by Sita to Ram. These were, "I do not instruct, I only remind you out of my love and regard for you". This was in his "Reference Service and Bibliography, Vol ], ]940". Writing a foreword to the same work, Sir Maurice Gwyer quoted exactly the same words and added, "I can think of no words more exactly appropriate to describe the attitude of the author himself in this 'book:'. Incidentally, in the index of the book there are four reference to the Ramayana. Further, because of this modest attitude, perhaps, SRR could never use an expression like 'user education' .

To impress on us the profundity of the Ramayana, SRR often used to tell us that, ".. .every time you read it you discover new meaning in it". Years later, I heard an eminent British admirer of SRR telling a group of Indian Librarians and students, that "the work 'Five Laws of Library Science' was like the Ramayana, every time you read, you discover new meaning in it".

4.3 SRR AS EDITOR OF PERIODICALS

SRR was a prolific writer. While in Delhi he started the ILA periodical, the ABGILA, in 1947. Looking back at the launching of this title, it now appears that was a significant step forward, a turning point. Many of his works had appeared in the form of books before this. But from this point onwards, many contributions containing his thoughts and ideas started coming out in the form of articles in periodicals. As is well known, most of the established disciplines have gone through such a phase of development. The change over from the book form to articles in periodical form of communication, can be smooth and sustaining, if a new culture of communication practice develops in the discipline and amongst its professionals. SRR was very much aware of the requirements of this new communication technique and he was in the forefront in bringing about the required change through his own writings, his editorial intervention in others' writings, and helping others conform to the requirements of effective communication practice.

The new culture, as I mentioned earlier, started with ABGlLA and had continued with the Annals of Library Science, and then the' Library Science with a Slant to Documentation'. All the three titles were edited by him.

4.4 SRR'S ENCOURAGEMENT TO WRITING WORK

I had seen SRR giving encouragement and helping young librarians to write properly. I too was initiated by him. While a student, I wrote a class assignment on the concept of 'pseudo-series' and the application of cataloguing rules available to handle such books. My teacher P K Garde liked it and he showed it to SRR. He appreciated the effort and he himself sent the paper, with a forwarding letter to a Pakistani Periodical for publication. That was how my first paper came into print.

I am sure the contents of my first paper were not of any serious consequence, but the fact it was appreciated by SRR and published gave me encouragement and a sense of self-confidence. That was SRR's way of encouraging all young people. Any young person could easily approach him even with half-baked ideas and some- scribbles and SRR would find time to listen to his sputtering or go through the scribbles. There would always be some words of encouragement also. Talking about his own teacher in London , Berwick Sayers, SRR said, ".. .even the chirpings of the most uninitiated were important to him, and he would listen with utmost care". SRR's own attitude towards young and aspiring authors was very much similar.

4.5 SOME MORE IMPRESSIONS OF SRR

Somehow, whenever I think of SRR, my mind goes back to the Delhi University days when I was a student of SRR. Apart from discussions in the class and outside the class, I soon got an important assignment as a senior student. He would call me to his Maurice Nagar residence whenever he had something to write on. He would dictate and I used to take down in long hand. There were breaks and discussions also in between. I soon realized that such sittings were of immense educative value for me. I could observe closely the systematic chain of thinking of a great mind in tackling the subject of study, his almost innate ability to analyses and layout the various aspects of the subject of the study, and then synthesis them within a framework, with short sections and subsections complete with numbering and short headings. As far as possible SRR tried to use mnemonic numbers. After using the digits 2 and 3 for structure and function or related ideas, ifhe was able to use the digit 4 for any type of anomaly, difficulty or impediment, his joy would be unlimited.

The writing sessions, incidentally, also gave me an opportunity to observe some of the likes and dislikes of SRR. I discovered that SRR had a liking for apples. This is clearly reflected in the assignment of the Isolate Number31 to apple, ending with the most favoured digit' 1 " in preference to the mango, the king of fruits or banana, the most common fruit. Similarly, all drinking and smoking crops-tea, coffee, ,cocoa, toddy and tobacco, poppy, etc are listed under the group heading poisons, intoxicants, with the inevitable mnemonic digit '4'. One may suggest that this is very close to a violation of the Canon of Reticence.

Once, some of us took courage to tell SRR that some people felt his system of numbering of sections, providing too many headings and sub-headings for short paragraph or even for a couple of sentences was often ugly and jarring. SRR refused to believe us and asked who were these people and where he could find them.

The logic for his style of presentation was that he wanted to give his readers a chance to see for themselves the framework or parameters within which the author has developed the topic in a piece of writing. His method of headings, sub-headings, numbering, etc actually built something like a scaffolding which helped the author immensely. At this point our argument naturally was that scaffoldings are dismantled after a building or a structure is completed. SRR finally held on to his position saying that in the context of scientific writing, the scaffoldings had a further useful role to play. The argument went on and finally he suggested a simple solution, in a somewhat lighter vein. The solution could be the use of a special type of printing ink and use of a special type of reading glass. As a result of which the scaffoldings will not be visible at all to those complaining readers. They will, of course, use the special reading glass. Others could read in the normal way, see the scaffoldings and derive full benefit from it.

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5 A WAY TO MY PLACE OF WORK

As I mentioned earlier, I completed my M Lib Sc in 1950 and within a couple of months, I got my first job in the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata. I, felt very lonely away from my familiar grounds. I started with routine work in the library and soon discovered the richness of collection. There were books and periodicals on many subjects. This was possible largely due to the reading habit of the Institute's Founder-Director Prof P C Mahalanobis. I started reading some of those books and had enough time, at my disposal, to write a few articles on alien subjects. One of these articles established a contact, quite unexpectedly, with SRR who was living in Zurich in those days. I shall be coming back to this episode in a little while.

Since my joining the Indian Statistical Institute in 1950, several important developments were taking place in Delhi. The most significant of these was the establishment ofINSDOC under the stewardship ofSRR. After a couple of years, a number of publications started coming out from the Centre. I was delighted to see the completely new type of bib liographica I publication, the 'INSDOC List with Colon and UDC Class Numbers. This was one of the earliest variety of what came to be known as Current Awareness Service (CAS).The other bibliographical publication was the "Bibliography of Scientific Publications of South and South-East Asia". The third publication was our professional periodical, the "Annals of Library Science", which was being edited by SRR himself. In the first two publications also the influence of SRR and S Parthasarathy was quite evident. Seeing all these publications in the library of the Indian Statistical Institute, I started harbouring in me a desire to come back to Delhi, join INSDOC and take part in the compilation and production of these publications, if only I could get an opportunity.

5.1 LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IN KOLKATA

During my stay in Kolkata, from 1950 to 1956, one important development in the library field was the launching of new professional association, the IASLIC. Its first conference was also held in Kolkata, which was attended by a large number of participants. Dr P Sheel and S Parthasarathy came as delegate from INSDOC. After I left Delhi , that was my first meeting with S _arthasarathy. I came to know more about INSDOC's activities and his involvement in them, especially in the 'INSDOC List'. All these further kindled my desire to come to INSDOC.

As I mentioned earlier, I had written some articles in alien subjects. One such article was on Calculating Machines, as computers used to be called in those days. This paper won for me the Meghnad Saha Popular Science Prize for the year and was published in the "Science and Culture".

5.1.1 Contact of PC Mahalanobis with SRR

More importantly the article was noticed by Prof Mahalanobis who sent me words to meet him. He was glad to know that I was making good use of the Institute library. He also found out from me about my Alma Mater, my educational and professional qualifications and that I was a student of SRR. That prompted him to enquire about SRR as to where he was, what was he doing, how old was he by now and so on. When he was told that SRR was living in Zurich with his son in some sort of a self-exile, he was apparently touched and just said, "This is very bad, we must do something for him".

A few months later Prof. Mahalanobis went on an European tour and remembered to meet SRR in Zurich . SRR was requested to come back and work in the country. He was also invited to pay a visit to the Indian Statistical Institute at Kolkata and have a detailed discussion on the future plan of action. SRR did come to Kolkata sometime in 1956 and met Prof Mahalanobis. The meeting was cordial and fruitful, which was evident as both of them walked down the stairs all smiles. At the landing of the staircase, Prof Mahalanobis asked me to accompany SRR to an old friend of his, who was at that time a Visiting Professor to the Institute. SRR introduced me to his friend as 'an apostle', meaning there by belonging to the same creed or same school of thought. I mention this because, I think, SRR used such an expression for the first time. There was another meeting between SRR and Prof Mahalanobis at Delhi, to which I shall come back after a while.

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6 COMING BACK TO DELHI TO JOIN INSDOC

The opportunity I was looking for came to me rather quickly. I applied for a post in INSDOC and was selected also. With the approval of SRR, I joined INSDOC in October 1956. My good luck continued as my first posting was in the Documentation Section for compilation of the INSDOC List.

6.1 THE INSDOC LIST

The concept of Current Awareness Service (CAS) was quite new in those days. It was remarkable that SRR could think of providing such a service from a national documentation centre in those early days. As more and more CAS appeared in different countries in different formats, a sizable volume of literature was also generated. Being associated with one of the pioneering services of its kind, I too contributed a few papers. I had a chance to show the typescript of one such papers to SRR. After glancing through its pages, he told me, "If you permit, J will add some poetry in it", and he wrote as further explanation to the nature of CAS, "it is an appetizer". After this the expression came into circulation, Even now I wonder how easily this 'poetic' expression came to SRR. Perhaps, it is in the nature of things, that the most analytical mind is also able to visualize quickly the best synthesised or poetic view of things.

6.2 ANNALS OF LIBRARY SCIENCE

In 1956 a new bond was forged between SRR and INSDOC. This was through the launching of the professional periodical, 'Annals of Library Science'. INSDOC took the responsibility of its publication and marketing while SRR agreed to look after the editorial work. Most ofSRR's own writings and those and those of his students and followers were published in this periodical, from 1956 to 1964. SRR used to refer to them, very modestly, as the contributions to the Indian school of thought. Publishing a paper in the 'Annals' in those days was a matter of considerable pride and a mark of distinction. I could only hope that some day I too would be able to contribute a paper in this esteemed periodical.

The opportunity came in 1961. In fact the opportunity was created by SRR himself. He was in Delhi in connection with some work and was staying with S Parthasarathy in NPL Colony. The stay was comparatively for a longer period. He introduced his inevitable morning walks programmer in the colony. The subject of discussion for quite a few walks was "Relocation of subjects in the 16th edition of DDC', which had appeared just then. A working group was formed with six of us to study in detail the nature of these relocations. Group discussions were also held in the evenings with SRR. When our deliberations took some shape, I was given the responsibility of writing the first draft. To our surprise and delight that was approved by SRR, without the intervention of the editorial pen in any manner. The paper was published in the fourth issue of the "Annals" of 1961, running into full three pages.

I have elaborated on the above to bring out one point. Whenever SRR took the responsible ity of editing a periodical he would always ensure that there was regular flow of contributions. He would organize study circles, discussion groups and the like and give them his own ideas and guidance so that they could produce something. His willingness to spare long hours with prospective authors was another source of inspiration for writing. He even planned his own flow of writings. At any given point he could tell how many pages of matter he himself will supply for the next two or three issues and how many pages others are expected to supply. One trick of the trade that he often used was identification of broad series within the scope of which a number of papers could be planned and then assigning them to appropriate persons.

S Parthasarathy once said, "Writing is always a difficult work. Some would avoid, some would hesitate, and some one will fall into net". This is very true. However, it appears SRR could set the net in such a manner that not only 'some one' actually 'many' had fallen into the net.

6.3 ANOTHER MEETING OF SRR WITH PROF MAHALANOBIS

As mentioned earlier, there was another meeting between SRR and Prof Mahalanobis. This time the meeting was held in Delhi. By that time SRR had come back from Zurich and settled in Bangalore. SRR put forward some concrete proposals for the consideration of Prof Mahalanobis. These were: Creation and support of a new Centre by the Indian Statistical Institute which will be engaging itself in training and research work in the field of Documentation and Centre would be located in Bangalore. The proposals were accepted by ProfMahalanobis, in principle, but he required some time to get the approval of the appropriate bodies and also for the release of funds. That is the genesis of the DRTC.

6.4 ANOTHER MEETING WITH SRR

In January 1962, SRR came to Delhi to attend some meetings at the Indian Standards Institute. I was asked to meet him. By that time the spadework for the starting of DRTC was almost complete and he was looking for some teachers. He asked me to join DRTC, provided I could keep a lien on my post in INSDOC. In those days, the tenure of services of all staff members were extended from year to year. There were no permanent posts. Hence there was no possibility of keeping him in any manner.

I remember this meeting as I was very close to a possible turning point in my professional career. I narrowly missed a chance to become a teacher under the careful guidance of SRR.

6.5 MY FIRST VISIT TO DRTC

A few months later, after the admission process was over and the classes were on, I received a letter from SRR asking me to come to DRTC and take some classes. I was naturally delighted to know that he remembered me, when the first opportunity came to him, for giving me a chance in teaching work. That was how I was initiated to teaching. Needless to say it was a very nervous beginning for me. However, it appears even this short experience in teaching became the highest credentials for me. No body could ever doubt the credibility of a person whom SRR himself had picked up for teaching work.

6.5.1 SRR at DRTC

Perhaps, the most striking thing that one could observe was SRR himself in the new environment. I was surprised to see him with renewed energy and enthusiasm. If the days of the Delhi University would be called his second innings, then he had embarked on to play an extra innings, so to say, having the possibility of being his brightest innings.

DRTC, at that time was housed in a spacious building with accommodation for classroom, a small library, teachers' room, office, students' dormitory, kitchen and dining space, etc. Teachers used to stay very close to this building. Because of this compactness, the operations were also smooth. Life was delightfully free from the usual ten-to-five work culture of cities. No body could ever be in a tension thinking that he / she might miss a bus or train and the consequent discomfiture that might have to be faced. In this relaxed and ashram-like environment, which to a large extent was his own creation and to his own liking, SRR was beaming all the time in blissful joy. I found SRR taking keen interest in the day-to-day working of DRTC, including students' boarding and lodging facilities and other needs.

So far as his teaching work is concerned, I found his informal teaching techniques was even more pronounced now. He told me that he had introduced some changes in the paper on 'Universe of Subjects' but he was not fully satisfied. One important feature of the DRTC course was its emphasis on computer application. To enable tpe students to get hands-on experience, a tie up with the Indian Institute of Science was in place. Provision was also there for the students to visit the Indian Statistical Institute at Kolkata. I also fouJld that considerable emphasis was being given on the colloquium method of learning. Colloquia sessions were held in the evenings to enable m1tsiders also to participate.

6.5.1.1 The Inevitable Morning ,Walks of SRR

I discovered on the very first day that within a few months of existence of DRTC, morning walks had become an identification mark of both SRR and DRTC in the neighborhoods. I had an interesting experience in this discovery. On my arrival in Banglore, I went straight to the 11 th Cross and was looking for some board or some indication for the exact location of DRTC. Finding none, I started asking passers-by, whose numbers were not many at that time of the day. After some time, I found an elderly gentleman. I mentioned DRTC and also its full form, but that did not mean anything to him. Then I gave him a description ofSRR, his usual dress with specs and walking stick and also told him that DR TC being a training institute, some students will be staying there. Immediately, there was a positive response from the gentleman. Pointing towards a big house with a sprawling compound, he said he had often seen an elderly gentleman, answering to my description, coming out with a group of young people in the morning. They walk down this road. at slow pace discussing something amongst themselves. He also said this must be some sort of an ashram. That was good enough. I knew I had scored a hit. After thanking the gentleman, I stepped into the compound of the hou§e without any hesitation, even though the name of one Chandramouli was prominently carved out on the stone block of the gate. I do not know whether my guide gentleman observed that from the next morning, I too was in the group of ashramites on morning walk.

6.5.2 THE HUMANE FACE OF SRR

During this first visit to DRTC, I also saw the most humane face of SRR, which was in the nature of a caring elderly person towards the younger members in a closely-knittraditional family. I was staying in the guest room of

DRTC with my good friend P N Kaula. For our dinner, on the first day, two massive tiffin carriers arrived. We could hardly do justice to the eatables contained in them. Before we could say or do anything to avoid such wastage offood, we came to know that SRR had taken note of our poor performance on the previous night and given the necessary instructions to his men.

On the last day of my stay, as I was preparing to leave, SRR quietly came to the guest room. He enquired of me whether I had collected everything and nothing was left behind, especially small items like tooth brush, shaving set, towel, etc. He also found out whether I could purchase something for my wife and the children. Then he asked me to drop a letter immediately after reaching Kolkata and I promised to do so. Evidently, that did not sound convincing to him. He said, how you will write the letter. Do you carry a postcard? On being told that I would get one when I reach Kolkata, he was visibly annoyed and said, "you young people will never be systematic". Immediately, he sent a person to his residence to fetch a postcard for me. As I was about to put the postcard in my bag, again he indicated his disapproval and asked me to write down his name and address on the card in his presence. When that was done, SRR said, "now I can expect to get your letter". That was not the end of his scrutiny. The final query was on the way I was carrying my money. As I pulled my wallet from my trouser pocket, he was astonished and exclaimed, "how one can be so careless!" I was made to divide the money into three parts and keep them in three different places.

6.5.3 My Last Meeting with SRR

I visited DRTC several times after the first visit in 1962. In 1969; I had a chance to visit on the occasion of its Annual Seminar. SRR was not keeping well in those days. Participants attending the Seminar were a bit disappointed to hear SRR's recorded address only and unable to meet or see him. In fact, his movement were very much restricted and visitors were also not allowed very often. Even then he sent me a message to meet him. He told me that he was mentally fit and wanted to work. But his physical condition was not that good, some weakness was there. Moreover, so many restrictions were imposed on him. As if to show that he was wiIIing to work, he was holding his favourite pen in his hand. Soon, he started talking about past events and about people with whom he came in contact, in a mood of retrospection. At times he was visibly excited, oblivions of the surroundings. People in the house were getting worried. I had to interrupt him to say, "Sir, you need some rest now". As I rose to come back to the venue of the Seminar, he said "Guha, perhaps this is our last meeting". Alas! It was destined to be so.

As I started walking back to the seminar, I was thinking of what I heard from him. Surely, that was the first occasion when I found SRR thinking of one's end and destiny. Was it a premonition? As is known, SRR left for his heavenly abode on 27th September 1972. We in INSDOC got the sad news in the afternoon. The infallible premonition flashed across my mind.

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7 S0ME BENEFACTORS OF SRR

Even a person like SRR who would never interfere in other's work, had to face many ups and downs in life and had moments of despair also. There were many detractors also, mainly within our profession. At the same time, it is amazing to find that in times of difficulties, some benefactors, from different fields, have come forward and extended their helping hands to SRR. Some,'of the names that easily come to mind are: Prof Edward Ross of Madras Christian College, who helped SRR in his college days; Sir Maurice Gwyer, who brought SRR to Delhi University to start the Department of Library Science and also provided all facilities for many other activities; Dr Lal C Burman, Director of Indian Standards Institution, who recognizing the talents” of S_R, was instrumental in introducing SRR to the important task of formulation of Indian Standards in the field of Library and Documentation; Dr S S Bhatnagar, Director General, CSIR, who recognized the value of SRR's proposal for the creation of a national documentation centre and established INSDOC with help of SRR; Dr.K S Krishnan, Director of the National Physical Laboratory, who provided all the facilities for planning and administration of INSDOC; and finally, Prof PC Mahalanobis, Director, Indian Statistical Institute, who created for SRR a separate Centre, i.e. DRTC where SRR could engage himself in research and training in the field of Documentation. Our profession will remember their benevolence with gratitude.

8 IMPACT OF SRR'S CONTRIBUTIONS AND RELEVANCE

According to an estimate by P N Kaula, SRR had written 50 books, over 1000 articles and scores of library development plans within a span of 48 years, from 1924 to 1972. The volume of his writings is quite impressive. As is well known, SRR wrote on almost all aspects of library and information science:

According to some experts, the most important contribution of SRR was in the development of a general theory of knowledge classification. This is also borne out by the findings of a bibliometric study by F W Lancaster and others [Libri,42(3), 1992, pp 268-281]. There were 477 citations to SRR's works in the Social Science Citation Index, during 1956 to 1990 and 153 citations in the Science Citation Index, during 1964-1991, a total of 630 citations. The most cited works were the Prolegomena to Library Classification, Colon Classification, Classified Catalogue Code, and Five Laws of Library Science. It appears his articles have been less cited. The most cited article was 'Subject heading and facet analysis' [J Docum., 20, 1964, pp 109-119]. The most citing periodicals were found to be International Classification. International Library Review, Libri, Journal of Documentation, and International Forum on Information and Documentation. It may be pointed out that even the above findings reveal only a partial picture of the impact, mainly due to coverage policies of source journals often two citation indexes.

The field of Library and Information Science has changed very rapidly during the last few decades, mainly due to the application of IT. It is true that IT has given us the capability of quick location or even access to sources of information. Consider for example a facility like the Internet. Surely, there are important developments. But already, there is also a whisper of some discontent in some quarters. The general complain is that very often one retrieves so many items of sources, that it becomes difficult to determine which is relevant and which is not. It seems, the 'problem of plenty' has reappeared in a different form. In the earlier era that has gone by we started with this problem and developed the techniques of better cataloguing, classification, indexing, retrieval mechanisms, designed different types of documentation services, etc, to get over the problem. Those mechanisms and services may have to be further strengthened or modified. There is another aspect also. In the changed environment of mechanized information retrieval systems, the databases have become important intermediaries between the users and the sources of information. Hence, improvement in the design of database could be another line of approach. Recent literature indicate that studies and experiments are going on along both lines. A paper by A Neelameghan provides a clear indication of thinking on the second line of approach. He presents examples of practical applications of the postulates, principles and techniques formulated by S R Ranganathan within the framework of his general theory of knowledge classification, at various stages in the design and development of databases, such as, in conceptualizing, structuring and organizing information... [Libri, 42(3), 1992, pp 202-226]. Such ideas indicate that SRR is relevant even today.

If we consider the developments in the field of library and information science from the days Dewey and Cutter to Ranganathan, a span of about hundred years, as an era, then we are now in a new era. A seamless continuity requires that some of the ideas and techniques are carried forward from the old to the new era. That is also the process of evolution.

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About the author

Prof B Guha

1. Professional qualifications:

M Lib Sc, Delhi University , 1950.

2. Short-term courses attended:

(i) A course on Computer Applications, at lIT, Kanpur, 1970.

(ii) A course on Documentation in Asia, Tokyo, 1970. Sponsored by Unesco.

3. Work experience:

1950-1956 Worked in the Library of the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

1956-1984 Worked in INSDOC, as Senior Documentation Officer. From 1965 onwards as a teacher of INSDOC' s Documentation course. Took early retirement.

1985-1986 Professor of LIS, Banaras Hindu University .

1987 Since 1987 associated with a number of NGO_ and similar organizations and agencies. Under the auspices of these organizations, a number of studies have been conducted and reports prepared. Most of these studies were sponsored by various governmental agencies. The last project was the compilation of a combined volume of the Indian Library Science Abstracts (ILSA) Vol 26-33, 1992-1999 for IASLIC, which was published in 2003. Another combined volume is under preparation. Under another agency, some retro-conversion work experience has also been gained at Prime Minister's Office, Central Secretariat Library, and Nehru Memorial Museum and Library.

4. Publications:

Published about 75 articles in domestic and foreign periodicals. Written a book entitled "Documentation and Information Services, Techniques, and Systems, 2nd ed, 1983". Prepared a comprehensive report on the Language Barrier in Scientific Communication, in 1985, which was sponsored by the Unesco.

5. Other Activities:

Delivered lectures at a number of Indian universities, scientific research institutions, workshops, etc. Acted as research guide and examiner of a number of universities.

6. Foreign visits: In the course of professional work, visited Tokyo , Paris , Berlin , and Dhaka .

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