33 Pioneers of Public Library Movement in India: Part-2

C P Vashishth

 

Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham (1867-1946)1

 

1. Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham (1867-1946) was a poet, play-writer and social reformer of great repute in Andhra. He had deep love for libraries and literature in his heart. Though he had no direct role in politics, he used to participate in Congress meetings and inclined to rightist policies. When Mr Bipin Chandra Pal visited Rajamahendravaram (now called Rajahmundry) in 1907, Chilakamarti recited a poem in extempore which means “India is a milch cow. Indians are crying like a calf gaged by the British cowmen. The Britishers are milking India mercilessly.” He is affectionately addressed as `Poet Laureate- of Andhra Desa.’

 

1.1 Role in Running a Library

 

Shri Chilakamarti served as President of the `Veeresalingam Library’ founded by Mr Nalam Krishna Rao in Rajahmundry for some time. He opposed for changing the name of the Library so long as he was its President. Later on this library was renamed as `Praja Granthalayam’’ (people’s library). This library was then merged with Vasuraya Library to form the Gowthami Granthalayam in 1919.

 

 

1.2 President of the First Andhra Desa Librarians Conference (1914)

 

Shri Chilakamarti presided the First Andhra Desa Grantha Bhandagarula Mahasabha (First Andhra Desa Librarians’ Conference) in 1914 at Bezwada (now known as Vijayawada). His Presidential address is a landmark in the annals of Library Movement in India, in which he proclaimed the Granthalaya Veda (The Law of the Library) which was translated into English by Dr S. R. Ranganathan in the following lines:

 

“The Sun’s light brightens everything;

 

So shall knowledge dispel Darkness;

 

and brighten every life.

 

Air gives life to all and is freely accessible;

 

So shall knowledge be within easy reach of all,

 

Breathing life vigour into them.

 

Clear water quenches the thirst of all;

 

So shall knowledge satisfy

    the curiosity of the curious

     and the hunger of the hungry for it.”

 

In his Presidential address, he said that all Indians are backward with regard to knowledge and there was an urgent need to uplift them. In a country where there are less number of schools, libraries are the only sources of knowledge. Reading books means spending valuable time with best friends. Libraries are nearer to us than our parents and brothers, hence, we should have more `knowledge cafes’ than `food cafes’. He suggested for starting a journal for the spread of library message. He declared that “each village should have libraries like we have tanks and wells.”

 

1.3 A Versatile Personality

 

He edited journals named Saraswathi, Manorama and Desa Maata. Through these journals he not only contributed to the spread of Telugu literature, but also to expose the exploitation by the then British Government.

 

On his 71st Birthday (in 1928) Andhra University honoured him with “Kalaprapoorna” (Honorary Doctorate). He was a man full of patriotism and love for his mother tongue–Telugu. Twice (in 1915-16 and 1917-18) he was elected as Vice-President of Andhra Desa Library Association.

 

2. Iyyanki Venkata Ramanaiah (1890-1979)2

 

Iyyanki Venkataramanayya, popularly known as Iyyanki was born on 24 July 1890 in Konduduru village of West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. He is considered as the moving spirit behind Library Movement in Andhra. He was awarded Padmashri by the Government of India. He completed his school education in 1903. He could not continue his studies further because of hisdeep involvement in the National Freedom Movement.

 

2.1 Library Movement

 

Iyyanki realised that illiteracy was the root-cause of all the social and economic problems of India. He felt that libraries were as powerful as educational institutions in eradicating illiteracy. This led him to start the library movement. He joined the Ram Mohun Library as its Secretary in 1911. This Library made rapid strides under his stewardship. He also worked as the Secretary, Andhra Desa Library Association from its very inception in 1914 till 1939. He built-up the Andhra Library Movement as a model to the entire country.

 

2.3 Library Conferences

 

Iyyanki was very active in conducting library meetings. He conducted as many as twenty five library conferences which developed library consciousness and interest among the people. Iyyanki and Andhra Desa Library Association were chiefly responsible for the organization of the All India Public Library Conference in November 1919, the first of its kind in Madras. This was a major step in the Indian Library movement. It gave a fillip to other library associations like Punjab Library Association, Madras Library Association, Bengal Library Association in catering to the library needs of society.

 

2.4 Library Pilgrimages

 

In the second All India Library Conference which was conducted in December 1923, Iyyanki was elected General Secretary of All India Public Library Association. As Secretary of this Association, he conducted library pilgrimages which stirred the enthusiasm of rural people for library movement.

 

2.5 Relationship of Library Movement with Adult Education

 

He envisaged the reciprocal relationship of library movement with Adult Education. Various book exhibitions, cultural festivals, general lectures on rural sanitation, agriculture as part of library movement helped the development of Adult Education. He not only took the initiative to establish rural libraries, but also brought forth the first library journal ‘Grandhalaya Sarvaswamu’ in Telugu with the patronage of Andhra Library Association. He also edited the Indian Library Journal from 1924 to 1936. Iyyanki founded Saraswathi Samrajyam at Vijayawada with the aim of making every human being an informed, cultured and democratic citizen.

 

2.6 Awards and Honours

 

In view of his dedicated services to the cause of library movement, he received many ovations from eminent persons like V.V Giri and S.R. Ranganathan. Speaking on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of Saraswathi Samrajyam, Shri V.V. Giri, the then Vice-president of India, paid glowing tributes to Iyyanki and congratulated him on his meritorious and exemplary service in establishing Public Library Movement in India. Recognising Iyyanki’s efforts in the library field, the Government of India awarded him Padmashri in 1972. He was also recipient of the covetous award of ‘Kaula Gold Medal’. Iyyanki dedicated himself to the cause of Libraries and Library Movement till his death. It is not hyperbolic to say that a study of Andhra Library Movement has become a study of the life of Iyyanki Venkataramanayya.

 

3. Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah (1906-2003)3

 

PadmaBhushan Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah was born on 17 September, 1906 at Sattenapalli in Guntur district. He participated in almost all social and political activities in the State of Andhra Pradesh. As early as 1929 he started the Sarada Granthalayam at Sattenapaili. He got himself trained under Iyyanki Venkataramaniah in 1934 at the Library Training Classes organised at Vijayawada. After this, his interest in library movement increased.

 

He reviewed the Model Library Bill (1930) of S.R. Ranganathan and suggested several modifications. He prepared an alternative Model Library Bill in 1938 and submitted the same to the Government. He also made several suggestions to the draft Composite Library Bill of 1960. He also served on the Review Committee appointed by Andhra Pradesh Government on Library Act under the Chairmanship of Justice Gopalrao Ekbote.

 

Andhra Pradesh Government appointed a Committee under his Chairmanship to suggest ways and means for the development of private aided libraries in the State. He was elected to the State Legislature several times. He also served as the Chairman of the Official Language Commission.

 

He started Vavilala Sanstha at Guntur in 1981 which is engaged in organising educational and cultural programmes.

 

 

4. Gopal Rao Ekbote (1912-1994)4

 

Born on 1st June 1912, Justice Gopal Rao Ekbote was educated at Saraswati Bhuvan Middle School, and Government High School, Aurangabad and Osmania University, Hyderabad. He was enrolled as an Advocate of the Hyderabad High Court on 28th November 1948, and as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1951. He practiced in the beginning in the Munsif Magistrate’s Court in Aurangabad District, then in the Subordinate Courts and High Court at Hyderabad. He started practicing in the Andhra Pradesh High Court since the reorganisation of State. He practiced mostly on Civil side. He was Minister of Education, Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs in the erstwhile Hyderabad State from 26 January 1954 to 31 October 1956 and also a Member of the Legislative Assembly Andhra Pradesh for some time. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court for a period of two years with effect from 7 June 1962. On 12th February 1964 he was appointed Permanent Judge. He worked as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh with effect from 1st April 1972 till his retirement on 1st June 1974.

 

 

4.1 Role in Library Movement

 

Justice Ekbote had a special liking for libraries from his childhood. He was associated as a Founder Member, President, General Secretary and in various other ways with public libraries. He introduced Library Bill in Hyderabad State, when he was the Education Minister and got it passed in 1955. He presided over the two All India Library Conferences held in Hyderabad and actively participated in the library activities of Vidarbha, Marathwada and Hyderabad.

 

He was the Chairman of the Review Committee appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1976 to look into the functioning of the Library Act. This Committee after a state-wide survey and visits, suggested several measures for the improvement in the functioning of the Library Act. Justice Ekbote also served as the Member of the State Library Council, Advisory Committee of the City Central Library (Hyderabad), Standards Committee and several other library bodies. He was also a Member of the Senate and the Syndicate of the Osmania University. Hyderabad.

 

5. Gadicherla Harisarvottam Rao (1883-1960)5

 

Gadicherla Harisarvottam Rao was born on October 14, 1883. He passed his high school final examination in 1900 from a school in Gutti, District Kurnool andtook his M.A. degree from the University of Madras in 1906. One can easily guesswhat an attractive career in government service he could have in those days with highest university degree if  he had chosen for that. But he was cast for something very different.Those who had the privilege of knowing Harisarvottama Rao will rememberwhat an experience it used to be to meet him. He was like an active dynamo always in motion. His venerable pure khadi-clad robust physique in all its bearing at once gave an impression that there was a true representative of the poor common man of India. He looked very much like a working kisan(farmer) with scant but scrupulously clean clothes. Throughout his long active life extending over a period of nearly six decades he did one thing – he served his people and he served them so faithfully and so well. In All-India Library Conferences he moved like an institution by himself. He was indeed an institution and unique one for that matter in library conferences, particularly towards the end of his life, as there were few among the participants who could claim even a fraction of the amount of sacrifices that he made for the cause of service to the nation through libraries and adult education.

The movement for Swaraj, initiated by the Indian National Congress, received a tremendous impetus right at the time when Shri Harisarvottama Rao completed his formal education. Lord Curzon’s plan of the partition of Bengal in 1905 provided the spark for blazing the trail of an intensive nation-wide movement for liberation from the British rule. The gems of public men, scholars and orators threw themselves in the forefront of the movement. Shri Rao soon came into contact with a great scholar and, perhaps, the greatest orator in India of the time, Shri Bepin Chandra Pal and fell completely under his spell. It is worth recording here that Shri Pal was not only great historian, patriot and orator, he was also a great librarian being the Librarian of the Culcutta Public Library from 1890 to 1900. This was a significant coincidence indeed. May be, Sri Rao’s lifelong association thereafter with libraries and adult education had something to do with this contact with one among our eminent and senior-most pioneers in library profession.

 

Shri Rao began taking active part in the freedom movement from 1906. The same year he founded association, named as Vignana Chandrika Mandali with the object of sponsoring and publishing good literature in the mother tongue of the people, Telugu. He was essentially a worker and not a preceptor. So he took upon himself to prepare the first book to be published by the Association. The first publication was excellent translation in Telugu of a standard work on the life of the great hero of the American Library Movement, Abraham Lincoln. The translation was, of course, done entirely by Shri Rao himself. Later under his inspired leadership the Association published quite a few more books, some of which are till today considered as classics in Telugu literature. Simultaneously, Shri Rao became the Editor of ‘Swarajya’ (Telugu weekly edition) in 1907. His vigorous participation in many kinds of nation-building activities and forceful writings propagating the freedom movement and spread of education could no longer be tolerated by the then government. In 1908 he was sentenced to imprisonment on a charge of sedition and was kept behind the bar for three years. The Madras Government carried its vengeance against him quite far. To block his way to earning his livelihood by taking up a job of a teacher, the Government issued an order prohibiting his appointment in any school in the province. This prohibitory order remained in force till it was rescinded by the first National Congress Government that assumed power in the province in 1937.

 

In 1914 he became the first Editor of the daily Telugu edition of ‘Andhra Patrika’ and served for about three years in that capacity. In 1917 he was chosen as the Secretary of the Andhra Home Rule League. From 1927 to 1930 he served as a Member of the Madras Legislative Council. He was also elected as a member of the Andhra University Senate for some years during this period. The National Government in Madras appointed him Honorary Director and Organiser, Adult Education, Madras in 1937. During the same period he also became Vice-President of the South Indian Adult Education Association, and Editor of ‘South Indian Adult Education Review’. From this time onwards till his death in 1960 he devoted himself fully to adult education and library movement work. He took over as Editor of ‘Granthalaya Sarwaswamu’ and as President of the Andhra Desa Granthalaya Sangha (now known as Andhra Pradesh Library Association) and the latter position he held with unique distinction and dedication till his death. In-between he held many responsible positions and rendered valuable services in the field of his life’s mission.

 

In 1946, his 60th birthday. Ceremony, sponsored by the Andhra Desa Library Association, was celebrated with great enthusiasm. The same year he was made President of the Granthalaya Trust and when the Trust constructed a fine building to house the Andhra Desa Library Association and allied organizations, it was formally declared open in 1949 being named after him as ‘Sarvottama Bhavanam’: In 1953, he directed an All-India Adult Education Seminar at Bikram in Bihar. In 1955, he participated as a delegate in the deliberations of the UNESCO Seminar on Development of Public Libraries in Asia, held in Delhi.

 

It is common knowledge that the Andhra Pradesh Library Association is not only the first library association in India but also that its long records of service stand foremost in quality and quantity in the annals of our Library Movement in India. Shri Harisarvottama Rao was associated with the Library Movement in Andhra from its very inception. He was essentially a selfless worker who shunned the limelight and dealt with men and affairs in a straightforward manner. His educational attainments and literary merit were of an order that had he chosen the normal life of careerist, educationist or journalist, possibly no position in these fields could be beyond his reach. The approach has a great relevance to conditions in our rural areas and it is the claim of the rural areas on our library services that always attracted the attention of Shri Rao whom we remember today with gratitude and reverence as a true representative of the village India which forms the heart of India.

 

Shri Harisarvottama Rao was also the Vice-President of the Indian Library Association for some years. In 1953 he invited the All-India Library Conference held at Hyderabad. That was the last All-India Library Conference that he attended. He is no more with us but his inspiring examples and benign influence will always weigh high in all our programmes having bearing on public library development.

 

6. Paturi Nagabhushanam (1907-1987)6

 

Kalaprapoorna Paturi Nagabhusanam was born in 1907 in humble circumstances. His maternal uncle was his preceptor. Paturi followed him and moved with social leaders and freedom fighters who taught him to follow selfless service. Library movement was one which attracted Paturi the most. He started teaching adults in his native village Pedapalem of Gunter district at an younger age.

 

As a student of Edward High School, Nidubrole, Paturi conducted a night school for adults at Machavanam for two years. In all the summer camps he conducted as Secretary, Andhra Desa Grandhalaya Sangham, he inspired many young men to take up this task, which is holy and makes the participants shed the ‘holier than thou’ attitude. The pure white snow on the peaks of the Everest is of no use. When it is melted by the heat of the Sun and flows into the plains it is useful.The case of knowledge is not dissimilar. His life-long association with adult education programmes made him publish Shri G. Harisarvottama Rao’s books and Charts on adult education and Gora’s “Our Lessons”. He was

    1.Elected Member of the Council of Indian Adult Association;

2.  Regional Secretary, South Indian Adult Education Association, Madras;

3.  Director, South Indian Adult Education Co-operative Publishing Society Limited, Madras;

4.  Appointed as one of the judges for evaluating the books written for Neo-literates; and

5.   Secretary, Reception Committee, and organiser of the Andhra Desa Adult Education Special Conference, Tenali.

 

Posts were thrust upon him and he enhanced their honour with his individual stamp. Note the list of posts he held in the library movement. He was

 

1.  Secretary and Librarian, Bala Saraswathi Library, Pedapalem. Here he started his work. His novel Boat Library Service which he ran for seven years made him known throughout India and in some quarters of the world.

2.   He donated 1,000 books and collected six thousand more making it a Central Library, ultimately serving nearly 40 villages with two branches in Duggirala and Pedavadlapudi in Guntur District. It is known as Sevasrama Vanee Mandiram of which he was the curator;

3.  Secretary, Tenali Taluk Library Association, Guntur District;

4.  Secretary, Guntur District Library Association;

5.  Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Library Association since June, 1938;

6.  Honorary Secretary and Correspondent, Andhra Granthalaya Trust;

7.  Member, State Library Committee for 20 years;

8.  Member, Guntur District Local Library Authority for one term;

9.  Member for two terms of the Krishna District Local Library Authority;

10.   Editor, Andhra Granthalayam Quarterly for one year;

11.    Editor of Granthalaya Sarvaswamu since the beginning of the publication of 12th Volume;

12.   One of the 5 Members of the drafting Committee appointed by the State Library Committee of Andhra Pradesh to write up the draft bill of Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries Act;

13.   Council Member, Indian Library Association

 

The list of activities reveals the super human energy spent with single minded devotion for the cause of the libraries.

 

6.1 Gandhian Way of Life

 

Sri Nagabhushanam used to act as a scavenger in his place. What more do we need as a proof of his dedication to Gandhian way of life. To make use of his services he was appointed as a member of the -Andhra Pradesh Gandhi Samraka Nidhi’s State Board;.

 

-Gandhi Thathawa Pracharak, Vijayawada Centre;.

-Editorial Board, Gandhian Literature Publication Committee.

 

6.2 Freedom Fighter

 

“Man is born free and found everywhere in chains” inspired him to join the Congress to drive out the British rulers. He had always been a follower of Gandhiji. He was sathwik by nature. As a freedom fighter, he smilingly walked into the jail twice : once in 1930 and second time in 1932, serving altogether a jail term of one and a half years, undergoing rigorous imprisonment. He was honoured as a member of Guntur District Congress Committee and Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee and received Copper Plaque as a freedom fighter and a political pensioner.

 

When Paturi Nagabhushanam was elected Secretary of Rama Mohan Free Library he was given only a short manuscript of minutes and a rack. Today, we see Sarvottama Bhavanam and Bapuji Mandir and Goteti Jogi Raju Building and extent of Land measuring one acre costing Rs. 840 per square yards. Besides propagating the movement of Library ideas and adult education, he had his achievements in concrete shape in the form of Buildings and Books.

 

Sri Nagabhushanam combined in himself the roles of a teacher, preacher, propagandist above all a constructive thinker. The buildings he caused to be constructed and the books he gathered remind us of the drops of sweat he shed. For he did manual labour also along with Late Komma Sitaramayya.

 

7. T S Avinashilingam Chettiar (1903-1991) 7

 

Mr Avinashilingam Chettiar was born on 5 May 1903 at Tiruppur. Avinashilingam was drawn into politics quite early in life. He introduced the Public Library Bill in the Madras Legislature and got it approved in 1948. Thus Library profession in Tamil Nadu is indebted to him.

 

8. S R Ranganathan (1892-1972)8

 

Dr S R Ranganathan was born on 12th August 1892 in Shirikali in Tamil Nadu. He graduated from Madras University and did LT from the Teachers Training College, Saidapet, Madras. Served as Lecturer in Mathematics and Physics at Mangalore,Bangalore, etc.He was selected as the Librarian of the Madras University in 1924. He had his basic grinding in librarianship in UK. He was the Founder Secretary ofMadras Library Association (MALA) and did yeomen service.MALA started Mobile Library Service on 21st October in 1931 for serving the villages within a radius of 82 miles from the town Kumaramanglam at Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu to liquidate illiteracy among the rural folk and to arouse interest in book among them . The `bullock cart’ used for this Mobile Library was designed by Mr S V Pillai, an engineer (LIS 5 p.449). His Model Library Bill was also circulated by MALA to various local bodies viz District Board, Municipalities, Talukas and Panchayats in Madras State (LIS 5 p.449). Yet an other service initiated by MALA under the leadership of S R Ranganathan for the first time in 1931 was the starting of Prison Library Service. With the efforts of MALA in 1933 the” Local Railway Companies at Madras agreed to charge half parcel rate for book exchanged between libraries and readers.” (LIS 5 p.452). Earlier as Librarian of the Madras University he had extended `Door Delivery System to Teachers of Affiliated Colleges in 1928 .’ He introduced `Open Access’ in the Madras University Library in 1929. At the insistence of MALA the Director of Public Instruction, Madras made 2 hours of library work compulsory in all high school classes. A memorandum was prepared by S R Ranganathan to the utilization of these periods, which was approved by Secondary School Leaving Certificate Board of Madras(LIS 5. P.453). In 1935 MALA started library tours in the villages to work with the help of village library groups in the villages for the removal of illiteracy of adults over 14 years of age. The Scheme was that a literate member was to teach some 10 illiterates near about him in leisure hours with a special text and copy book prepared by them for teaching(LIS 5. P.454).

He gave several new theories in Library management, particularly in library classification. He was President, Indian Library Association; Vice-President of FID and the Library Association, UK. He wrote several books and technical papers. Founded DRTC in 1962 under Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Calcutta.

 

8.1 Awards

 

In 1936 he was honoured with title of `Rao Sahib’. In 1957 he was awarded Padmasri by the Government of India. He was appointed National Research Professor in Library Science by the Government of India in 1965.

 

9. S Janardhanam Naidu9

 

Janardhanam Naidu joined Connemara Public Library as its first full-time Librarian in 1929 and continued in the same position till retirement. He introduced several new services in the library including open-access system; revised and published its author catalogue, etc. He was very popular among the library professionals.

 

 

10. Krishnaswami iyyar, K. V. (1883-1965)10

 

Krishnaswami Iyyar was the Chairman of the Reception Committee of the All India Public Library Conference held in Madras in 1927. He lost notime to seize the idea mooted in the conference that Madras should have a library association of its own. The result was the formation of MadrasLibrary  Association  (MALA)  with  himself  as  Chairman  and  S  R Ranganathan as the Secretary. He took interest in spreading library movement in the state which is admired by one and all. He was made emeritus President of MALA till he breathed his last in December 1965 after attaining the age of 82 years.

 

 

Mr. Ayyar was an eminent person of education and imagination. Soon after the formation of the Association he took up compilation of a motley collection of essays in five languages (English, Tamil, Telgu, Canarese and Malayalam) used in the then composite Province of Madras. The opening essay in the compilation, ‘The Library Movement was by Rabindra Nath Tagore and other contributors were eminent men like, S. Satyamurti, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, C.P. Ramaswami Ayyar, Dr. S. Radhakrishan & others. Mr. Ayyar himself contributed as many as four essays in the English Section of the collection. Viscount Goschen of Hankhurst, the then Governor of Madras sent a message for inclusion in the collection. Remarks of Rt. Honorable V.S. Srinivasa Sastri in his foreword to the collection as quoted below will show what stuff Mr. Ayyar was made of:

 

“ As an ardent well-wisher of the new means of national uplift, I cannot forbear to note in conclusion one good omen. The Movement in Madras has been taken up in earnest by one of our most energetic and zealous workers, Mr. K.V. Krishnaswami Ayyar, unlike other public workers, begins his career as a servant of the community, with a good record of useful activity. To dare to narrow one’s range, to define one’s aims precisely, and to labour persistently till results are achieved, are virtues of public life of which he possesses an uncommon share”.

 

Few could aspire for such encomium from a person of the reputation and standing of the Rt. Hon. Srinivasa Sastri. Mr. Ayyar provided conclusive proof of his qualities of head and heart right from the moment he look up the case of Library Movement.

 

As a compilation of essays by diverse hands on various aspects of our modern library work and management, ‘The Library Movement’, issued by the Madras Library Association in 1929 soon after its establishment in 1928, will always remain as a classic on the subject. We can have a glimpse of the extent to which Mr. Ayyar was knowledgeable and pragmatic in this field of his activity from the following extracts taken out of one of his articles (The Scope of the Library Movement) in the compilation:

 

“By way of precedent we may refer to the movement in Russia. In that vast country as in ours, the percentage of the literate population about twelve years ago was quite as small. But through the influence of the Library Movement, carried on along suitable lines, the bulk of the peasant population has, in one decade, been taught to read and write and rendered fit to benefit by the rural library service.

 

The Library Movement in Madras will therefore, comprise three heads of work. The first, and I would give importance to it, is the work with the masses, the illiterate, uneducated adult population, which should at least he informed, if not educated. The second line of work will be with those that know to read and write but have had no education in the real sense. They have just learnt enough to begin their education and they must be made to think and educate themselves, or at least be prevented from lapsing into illiteracy. The Third branch of the programme will relate to the educated classes. These again do require an impetus of the kind that the Library Movement can give, to make them take to books. The first two lines of work are concerned primarily with the South Indian languages, while the third will necessarily cover the entire literature of the world”.

 

Mr. Ayyar for his valuable services, particularly for his work as President of the Madras Library Association, was loved and respected by the people. The Government conferred on him the title of ‘Rao Bahadur’. In 1953 the Madras Library Association observed its Silver Jublee celebrations. The Then Chief Minister of the State, C. Rajagopalachari presided over the public meeting held on April 4, 1953 and presented to Shri K.V. Krishnaswami Ayyar on behalf of the Association and the people souvenirs and Addresses for his outstanding service to the cause of the Library Movement in the State.

 

On Mr. Ayyar’s demise on December 24, 1965 Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, a life-long co-worker of Shri K.V. Krishnaswami Ayyar in the Madras Library Association, in an obituary note paid rich tributes to the memory of the deceased .(vide Herald of Library Science 5 no.1( January 1966): pp. 77-79).

 

K.V.Krishnaswami Ayyar, a person of outstanding ability and dignity was a non-professional promoter of the Library Movement in India. His pioneering work for over three decades, marked by his uncommon devotion and sagacity, will ever provide shining examples for future workers in the field of library science. We shall cherish his memory with all respect and admiration.

 

TEXT FOR VOICE NARRATION/CHUNK TEXT

 

Southern India has had a galaxy of Library pioneers. Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham (1857-1946) poet of great repute of Andhara Desa was president of Veeresalingam Library founded by Nalam Krishna Rao in Rajamundry. His major role has been as President of First Andhra Desa Library conference held at Bezwada (now known as Vijayawada) in 1914 and composing of library veda in Telugu which was translated into English by S R Ranganathan which reads, as follows:

 

The Sun’s light brightens everything;

 

So shall knowledge dispel darkness;

 

and brightens every life.

 

Air gives life to all and is freely accessible;

 

So shall knowledge be within easy reach of all,

 

Breathing life vigour into them.

 

Clear water quenches the thirst of all;

 

So shall knowledge satisfy the curiosity of curious

 

And the hunger of hungry for it,

He declared that each village should have libraries like we have tanks and wells. He advocated for establishment of ‘knowledge cafes’ than ‘food cafes’.

 

Padmashri awardee Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah (1890-1979) was considered as moving spirit behind library movement in Andhra. He joined Ram Mohan Library as its Secretary in 1911. He also worked as Secretary Andhra Desa Libarary Association from its inception in 1914 till 1939. His major contributions are:

 

  • making Andhra Library movements as a model for the entire country;
  • conducted 25 library conferences;
  • was elected as General Secretary of All-India Public Library Association in 1923;
  • conducted library pilgrimages which stirred enthusiasm of rural people for library movement;
  • envisaging reciprocal relationship of library movement with adult education.;
  • taking initiative to establish rural libraries;
  • bringing out Granthalaya Sarvaswamu a library journal in Telugu, which is still continuing. He was its editor during 1924-1936.
  • founding of Saraswathi Samrajyam at Vijayawada with the aim of making every human being an informed, cultured and democratic citizen

 

Padmabhushan awardee Vavilala Gopalkrishnaiah (1906-2003) got himself trained under Iyyanki Venkataramanaiah in 1934. His major contribution are:

 

  • establishment of Sarad Granthalayam at Sattenapalli
  • reviewed Model Library Bill (1930) of S R Ranganathan. Suggested many modifications.
  • prepared an alternative Model Library Bill in 1938 and submitted the same to the Government.
  • made several suggestions to draft composite library Bill of 1960.
  • served on Review Committee appointed by Government of Andhra Pradesh
  • started Vavilala Sanstha at Guntur in 1981 which is engaged in organizing educational and cultural programmes.

 

Justice Gopal Rao Ekbote (1912-1994)’s major role has been in introducing Public Library Bill in the Hyderabad state and getting the same passed in 1955 as Minister of Education. He remained associated with public libraries as President, General Secretary etc. His major contributions are:

  • active participation in library activities of Vidarbha, Marathawada and Hyderabad.
  • Chairman of Review Committee appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1976
  • Served as member of State Library Council
  • Served as member of the Standards Committee

 

Gadicherla Harisarvottam Rao (1883-1960)’s major contributions have been:

  •  founding of Vignana Chandrika Madali – an association – with the object of sponsoring and publishing good literature in mother tongue – Telugu
  • edited Swaraj (Telugu Weekly edition) in 1907
  • participated vigorously in nation building activities
  • became editor of daily Telugu edition of Andhra Patrika in 1914 for about 3 years.
  • appointed Honorary Director and organizer, Adult Education, Madras in 1937
  • invited All-India Library Conference at Hyderabad in 1953.
  • served Indian Library Association as its Vice President.

 

Paturi Nagabhusham (1907-1987)’s major contributions are

  • conducted night school for adults at Machavanam for 2 years
  • served as Secretary, Andhra Desa Granthalaya Sangham
  • conducted summer camps to inspire many young men
  • served as member of the Council of Indian Adult Association.
  • served as Regional Secretary, South Indian Adult Education Association, Madras
  • served as Director, South Indian Adult Education Co-operative Publishing Society, Ltd, Madras
  • appointed as one of the judges for evaluating books written for neo-literates

 

Avinashilingam Chettiar’s major role has been in introducing Public Library bill in Madras Legislature and getting the same passed in 1948-the first ever bill passed in free India.

 

Padmashri S R Ranganathan (1892-1972)’ role in public library field has been in drafting library bills for different Indian states. He also drafted Model Library Bill. He was instrumental in founding Madras Library Association (MALA) which introduced a number of programmes for the spread of library movement in and around Madras.

 

In 1931 MALA started Library tours in villages to work with the help of villages Library Groups for the removal of illiteracy of adults over 14 years. The scheme was that each literate member was to teach some 10 illiterates near about him in leisure hours with a special text-book and copy book prepared by them for teaching.

 

Ranganathan’s ”Library Development Plan” published by University of Delhi is a classic example of public library development in a phased manner.

Earlier in 1931 Bullock Cart Library Service in Kumarmanglam at Mannargudi was introduced by MALA.

 

K V Krishnaswami Iyyar’s major contributions are:

 

  •  President of All India Public Library Conference in 1927
  • formation of Madras Library Association with himself as Chairman and S R Ranganathan as Secretary.
  • President Emeritus of MALA
  • Government of Madras conferred on him the title of Rao Bahadur.
  • a person of outstanding ability and dignity was a non-professional promoter of library movement in India. His pioneering work for over 3 decades marked by his uncommon devotion and sagacity will ever provide shining example for future workers in the field of library service.

 

REFERENCES

 

 

1. Sarada, Ravi. “Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham” in PSG Kumar’s Library Movement and Library Development in Andhra Pradesh. New Delhi: B R Publishing Corporation, 2008. p.498-500

 

2. “Iyyanki Venkata Ramanaiah” in Granthalaya Sarvaswamu. In PSG Kumar’s Library Movement and Library Development in Andhra Pradesh. New Delhi: B R Publishing Corporation, 2008.p. 504-506

 

3.  Venkatappaiah, Velaga.” Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah”. Grandhalaya Sarvaswamu, June 2003

 

4.  Satyanarayana K..B.: “Ekbote, Gopal Rao”.in PSG Kumar’s Library Movement and Library Development in

Andhra Pradesh. New Delhi: B R Publishing Corporation, 2008.p. 501-502

 

5.  “Chakravarty, N.C.”Lest we forget-3.” Indian Library Association Bulletin 3, no.3 (1967):157-160

 

6.  Pinakapani. “Paturi Nagabhushanam (1907-1987).” in Library Movement and Library Development in Andhra, edited by P.S.G. Kumar. Delhi: B.R.Publishing Corporation, 2008.p.519-22

 

7.  “Avinashilingam Chettiar, T S.” in Library Movement and Library Development in Tamil Nadu,Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar, edited by P,S. G. Kumar. Delhi, B.R.Publishing Corporation, 2008. p.433

  1. “Ranganathan, S R.” in Library Movement and Library Development in Tamil Nadu,Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar by PSG Kumar. Delhi, B.R.Publishing Corporation, 2008. p.436

 9. “Janardhanam Naidu, s.” in Library Movement and Library Development in Tamil Nadu,Pondicherry and Andaman & Nicobar,edited by P.S.G. Kumar. Delhi: B.R.Publishing Corporation, 2008.p.434.

 

10. “Chakravarty, N.C.” Lest we forget Part-3: Pioneers who are no more”. Indian Library Association Bulletin 3

n.3-4(1967): 161-3

 

 

Web links

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilakamarti_Lakshmi_Narasimham accessed on 31/07/2013

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyyanki_Venkata_Ramanayya accessed on 31/07/2013

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vavilala_Gopalakrishnayya accessed on 31/07/2013

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopal_Rao_Ekbote accessed on 31/07/2013

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadicherla_Harisarvottama_Rao accessed on 31/07/2013

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._S._Avinashilingam_Chettiar accessed on 31/07/2013

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._R._Ranganathan accessed on 31/07/2013

 

Did You Know?

  • Did you know that the first `bullock cart’ used as a Mobile Library by MALA was designed by Mr S V Pillai, an engineer which served the villages within a radius of 82 miles from the town of Kumaramangalam at Mannargudi.