Suma Chitnis’s M.N.Srinivas Memorial Lecture : A Sociological Narrative worth reading! A Review

Suma Chitnis’s M.N.Srinivas Memorial Lecture : A Sociological Narrative worth reading!

A Review

Rajashekhar Devarai

10/26/2011

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.

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)

We the Librarians need to operate from the source of our thoughts... trust me .... LbnRaj ; lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

Golden words of Lane Wagger (Source : Speaking Tree, Times of India, January 19, 2011):

January 19, 2011; Wednesday

1. The mind is capable of the same settling (like a wave in the ocean) down, or transcending process. Waves of thought retire to the source of thought.
2. The agitated, limited value of thought gains the unlimited status of being the silent depth of the ocean of consciousness.
3. The mind is like a body of water : choppy on the surface, silent and stable at its depth.  When we experience only the noisy surface level of thinking, difficulties abound.
4. The growth of inner silence is the basis of spiritual unfolding and material success.
5. Consciousness is the prime mover of life.
6. Knowledge is different in different states of consciousness.
7. If you are anchored to the silent blissful state of consciousness, everything you do becomes joyful.
8. According to Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, handle that one thing – consciousness – by which every thing else is handled.

"Just like any other individuals in society, we the librarians do fee insecure , un happy, stressful and anxiety ridden often at times. We are skeptical and worried over the illogical behaviour of our bosses and co-workers and subordinates. We feel proud of some of our colleagues for their good deeds, feel sorry for the irrational behaviour of some others. All is well …. when we work from the core of our consciousness. All is well when we work from the source of our thoughts…that is consciousness. We are heading steadfast to emerge as the much awaited and coveted title of a 'knowledge professional'. Wagger says, "Knowledge is different in different states of consciousness". Being Knowledge professional in this context is to be operating from the source of our thoughts, to be operating from  the silent blissful consciousness level. The day is not far when we slide and glide towards being recognized as a full-fledged librarian, a librarian who would be sought after by every one who has to do some thing to do with knowledge. Cheers". –

Keywords : Librarian, Librarianship,knowledge,consciousness,thoughts, Lane Wagger,Speaking Tree,Times of India, silence, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, success, consciousness,

LbnRaj ; lotus5673@yahoo.co.in ; http://indialibrarian-intl.blogspot.com (Source of Inspiration : Lane Wagger, Speaking Tree, Times of India, January 19, 2011)

Librarianship is a noble profession

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Vinita asks a question, “Why cant we stop “I”ing to the outer world and start “eyeing” our inner selves? As Librarians how do we answer this question? January 17, 2011; Monday

Vinita asks a question, "Why cant we stop "I"ing to the outer world and start "eyeing" our inner selves? As Librarians how do we answer this question? January 17, 2011; Monday

What is this going beyond after all?  Is it about being contended, being selfless, being egoless being broad minded, being inclusive, being tolerant, being happy for what we are and being proud about being amongst the commoners and the greats simultaneously? The answer to this question puts librarians and the librarianship in perspective.  The answer to this question has potential to position librarian and librarianship to the centre place of social fabric.  We can graduate to the indispensable value systems of social  life making way for much awaited and coveted title of being a full fledged profession.  to put it in understandable terms an occupation moves from being a work and job to being a profession and a calling.  When the he, she, it, they, are put in focus, the I and me concerns get more boost and more calling from every where.

What this means to a Librarian?

1. Being a Librarian let us be what we are and what we stand for.  We  are and will be more comfortable if we are comfortable with what we are as a librarian.
2. We don't need status comparable to that either of a teacher, scientist or manager or leader or a scholar.  We  have to emerge your self as a true librarian.  lot remains to be done to be a librarian, to be a true librarian.  We can never go further, grow further if we are moved by the glamour of fascinating titles like, a manager, leader or a teacher.
3. Status does not come with fancy titles, it comes and builds upon our intrinsic potentials and credentials.
4. User first, members first, patrons first : Our stability and status are closely interlinked to our action and activities and services.  We should make our space and get into doing what others are not into doing.  That makes us indispensable.  When we go further and further in this regard we be come indispensable and we become eligible for what we really deserve from people around and society at large.
5. Yes, we have to speak the language of he, she, they and you.  Let us place the reader, user, member, patron in the centre place and we will be  on the right track.
6. There is nothing less in what we are and what we stand for.  We are already at the centre of social fabric.  It is time to realize and introspect.  We had arrived at this centre space long long before.  It is now, again to re assert and go as closer to this reality as possible.  It is possible.  It is possible, because we are already what we wanted to be?
7. It is time we really stand for what we are ….. this ideal is no less an ideal.  Let society give / bestow  upon us what it rightfully thinks as right and due and true.

We are librarians, we are professionals, nothing more nothing less.  So what if we  still continue to emerge into the best of  what we are!

Keywords : Librarian, librarianship, I, Iing, eyeing, beyond  I, worth, O-zone, Vinita Dawra Nangia, competition, Vinita.nangia@timesgroup.com, status, prestige, profession, professionalism, Rajashekhar Devarai, Sociology, LbnRaj, Times of India, Times Life.

LbnRaj, lotus5673@yahoo.co.in ; http://indialibrarian-intl.blogspot.com

(Inspiration : Let us go beyond 'I' / Vinita Dawra Nangia.-Times of India, January 16, 2011).

Librarianship is a noble profession

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In general what is your opinion about the status of librarians and librarianship?

Question to Seija Mentu : In general what is your opinion about the status of librarians and librarianship?

Answer by Seija Mentu :

"I have always valued librarians highly. The same goes for libraries and librarianship. The world would be a dull place without books - I have loved reading since early childhood and books are my lovely dear friends."

For further clarifications mail to : smentu@hotmail.com


Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

On conscious / Unconscious and School Education!!!!

On conscious / Unconscious and School Education

1."A tension free mind is one that can function positively despite
contradiction" - Maulana Wahiduddin Khan : Times of India (9th July 2010 :
Speaking Tree).

2.Essay by Ashok Malik titled "High Demand, short supply" on school education
in

India is relevant and timely. Parents are ready willing and ready to spend on
the quality education of their children. They obviously want better labs,
play grounds furniture and equipped libraries in the schools where their kids
study. I dont think it is logical for the government to come in between , when
parents are ready to spend more and schools are ready to maintain high
quality.!

Lbn.Raj
lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

Librarianship is a noble profession.
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Shri V.L.Kalyane .. a librarian at large!!!!!

1^st July 2010,

My dear friend librarian at large Shri Kalyane,

I never realised last time may be about 7 months back when I met you at your residence that that could be the last meeting with you. The amount of time available with me at your residence roughly say about two to three hours in let us say about three times was never sufficient forme to talk to you. And I could see in your eyes that you wanted me to stay at your place for some time. What to to do I had to go to Thane ... Kalwwa to reach my residence..... by train. I really wanted to speak to you when you were alone with me some times may be on a road side ... or under a tree or .... may be a lot of time when we could walk a lot ... kms together. My dream and wish of spending endless time with you could not realise.  The so called desire to communicate....exchange views ... remained unfulfilled. My mind never agrees to the fact that you are not around in a physical sense. You are so much mixed up in my thoughts and ideas … and ofcourse philosophy. Now there is no need of any email or phone or wireless to communicate to you….. you can very well read my lines as I type…from where ever you are. Shall I think that my meetings….discussions with you ended…with your detachment from your body……Idont think so ….. the physical connectivities have their own limitations….now you are beyond your limitations….may be I am right…. I can get connected … as and when I want…as and when I feel like. There is so much to be discussed…. There is so much to be argued… … how do I find you live with me … There are many subjects and topics which we both did not deliberate… I am so curious to have your point of view … philosophy on so many diverse topics. What do I do dear? How do I elicit your thoughts now. ?... May be I look foolish in thinking the way I am thinking now. May be whatever you shared in terms of ideas …. Represent … n number of thoughts … and opinions … May be if I start reading whatever you wrote and published ….could be I may get a glimpse of your other thoughts.

The glowing face of that Kalyane …. Young energetic ….thoughtful… is so green in my mind.  May be initially you took some time to decide whether you should ever interact with me. Ya thosedays … you just arrived at my institute from a sister organization of ICAR. The very look , attitude … drew me towards you. Your dry…passionate …non childish attitude towards knowledge, writing, publishing …. And a craze for writing and publishing drew me may be close to you. Ya I can remember now … you were not realy liking the things you were doing for your job. You had some other things .. close to your heart. How can we expect our likes and dislikes to pair with job and its requirements. May what we are passionate about .. may or may not be linked to our professions and jobs.

Ya … you used to ask me … mumble… like “ I should have been more into active science … than science communication or science administration, …. How do I coincide my interests with that of my job and work” .  If if I remember wel I told you … don’t try to relate … do what is close to your chest … in your free time. But then you did not still discover … what is that which is between librarianship….. science …. And philosophy. You know we had endless sessions in discovering …. A subject…. Topic for you to get fruitfully engaged in. And it was not for so long … a wait for you to stumble at some areas like “Productivity Studies”. Ya you did and were doing something about Sugarcane Breeding Institute….ya those exercises became … one of your first few published papers. Then you stumbled upon terms like Science of Science and Sociology of Science .. gradually to discover …. What later engaged you for years together…. “Scientometrics”, Bibliometrics”, Librametry”, etc. The strikingly interesting was the fact of how yoyu will work l…… and where will you be able to get material and data for “Scientometric Works”. May be we then suddenly … got fascinated upon the idea of Individual scientometric portraits. As you realize… we were not sure … if it could ever be accepted by librarians or scientists …. We were not realy sure… how it is going to work further. And you got me involved with you in publishing informetric portrait of a botanist…….. and the story’s….first line was drawn….. And then you were drawn towards areas of my interests … u know we ended up publishing papers on “empathy in public librarianship”, Round the clock Librarianship etc. Then you came to Mumbai and my be you came a bit closer to what is dearer to your heart….. that is the world of Publication….hope the days you spent at Mumbai as Publication Officer were gratifying for you.

I still remember those endless hours at Hyderabad … which we spent on road sides… or under a tree … making our families wait for us behind at homes. It was indeed an intoxication which we were in … and were really not bother about what people thought about us. Hats off Kalyane …. You had the charisma to draw like minded youngsters towards topics of your interest …. Ramesh, Hanji, Venkataramana, me at Hyderabad and Kademani, Anil …and Idont remember many names of your co-authors at Mumbai… cannot ever be able to forget you and their association with you. You really deserve to be called an “author maker”.

People must be talking a lot about your contributions now ….must be talking a lot about how you carelessed your family. I am sure  your wife and your lively beautiful kids will never complain about what you did not do to them. I am sure what you did … overpowers on what you did not do to them. Let God give shower all courage and confidence to them … to excel passionately in whatever they are engaged in.

People say .. you suffered a lot in your last days …. But I am sure you ended your journey gracefully. All great things in life take their fitting prices / fitting tolls. And you paid for it!!!

You became an unforgettable name in Indian Librarianship by initiating new chapters in Scientometrics, Informetrics and Bibliometrics. You were indeed a librarian by passion, zeal and interest and now you are a librarian at large!!! Indeed now you are a librarian at large!!! Hats off to you my friend. My interactions with you now I believe are more intense than when you were around. Best wishes … may your soul rest in peace. Hats Off.

Lbn.Rajashekhar Devarai

Librarians continue to be knowledge professionals. Would you like to communicate to the Principal Blogger of India Librarian directly? email to .- lotus5673@yahoo.co.in .- 1816gbgv

Searching for Information

Sir,

According to my spontaneous opinion of Librarianship is Ssearching for information and dissemination of correct information to people who are are in need of the information and in the bargain Librarians become more knowledgeable and they become needy persons in the society for the benefit of information.

Withregards,


MYTHILI K Librarian
Sheshadripuram Evening College Bangalore - 560020
email address : myl.kicha@gmail.com


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Thanks

Thank you IndiaLibrarian-Intl for inviting me to participate in this blog.

I did vote on the poll on the Status of Librarians and I would like to expand on my vote, viz., that Librarianship is a full-fledged profession. However, in India we still are not able to get the deserved recognition for our work, skills and contributions. This is simple because we have not demonstrated to the managements and our users as to how libraries canand have contributed to their learning and knowledge endeavours. I believe librarians should be more outgoing - interact more with users, both interpersonally and in formal ways and let them know how the library can benefit them. Equally, I believe we need the interactions to better undestand their needs/problems and see how we could meet these. Lastly, we need to use technology innovatively to improve our images and also our capability to serve users more effectively.

I would also like your members to know of an important initiative in making an open source ILS available to Indian and other developing country libraries. Please visit http://www.newgenlib.com for details.

-Prof.Jai Harau : KIIKM : NewGenLib Software

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