Suma Chitnis’s M.N.Srinivas Memorial
Lecture : A Sociological Narrative worth reading!
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A Review
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Rajashekhar
Devarai
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10/26/2011
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This
is a reflection of a practicing librarian on M.N.Srinivas Memorial Lecture
delivered by sociologist Suma Chitnis at Cuttuck. Citation : Suma
Chitnis/Lessons from the field (M.N.Srinivas Memorial lecture delivered at
Indian Sociological Society Conference at Revenshaw University, Cuttack
02-12-2010), Sociological Bulletin 60(2), May-August 2011.
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For over 15 years or so I have been a
life member of Indian Sociological Society. I get news letters and Sociological
bulletins regularly wherever I happen to be.
Inspite of undoubted interest in the discipline of Sociology I opted to
be a Librarian some 26 years ago. But my
fascination for sociological imagination has not faded to this day. I would not read every thing that is published
in Sociological Bulletin, but venture to read, glance atleast some papers now
and then. So for long I have opted to
call myself as a student of Sociology.
My feed back to Sociology? Nothing except reading Sociology now and then
and publishing two papers (reviews) on
Sociology of Library profession.
Any way coming to the lecture
delivered by Prof.Suma Chitnis I have heard of her as a Sociologist, as a
researcher on, “Teaching as a profession.”
Anyone coming closer to the studies on professions draws my attention
and more so if it happens to be a sociologist.
Prof.Ambarao Uplaonkar (Gulbarga) used to talk about professor Suma
often.
Prof.Suma starts her lecture by
acknowledging M.N.Srinivas as a profound scholar, an excellent researcher and a
great teacher and mentor. Incidentally I
happened to work on the bibliometrics and informetrics of writings /
publications of Srinivas. It was my privilege to get a brief biography and list
of papers and other publications personally from him. Unfortunately I could not
communicate / send him a copy of the published paper. After retirement from active service the many
an academician / academic administrator become more matured, contented and
worth emulating. Hats off, at the age of
78 Suma delivered such a thought provoking personal and touching lecture. She has recalled her experiences as a
researcher, Teacher and Administrator at
Mumbai University, Tata Institute of Social Sceinces, SNDT and Tata
Endowment. A life worth lived indeed. At the outset the lecture looks a narrative
but deep down it is indeed an eye opener for younger sociologists and
professionals. She is so frank, fair,
energetic and simple in what she said.
Hope I will make it to meet her
once at Mumbai where she lives now. It
is quite unfortunate that I happen to be at Bhubaneswar and could not make it
to participate in the Indian Sociological Society Conference at Cuttack. I could have had the privilege to hear her
lecture live. Hats off madam, be happy,
keep lecturing for many more years. Jai Sociology.
Reference
Devarai, Rajashekhar , Ramesh L.S.R.C.V and Hussain, M.V. Informetrics on M.
N. Srinivas, 1998. In Annals of Library Science and Documentation. pp.125-135.
(Published) [Journal Article (Print/Paginated)]. (http://hdl.handle.net/10760/5863)
