THE FATHER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE IN INDIA

The Father of Library Science in India

Dr. Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan was born on August 9, 1892 Shiyali, Madras and died on September 27, 1972 in Bangalore. He earned an MA in Mathematics, and taught at Madras University. In 1924 he was appointed as the librarian of Madras University, a post he held for twenty years. As a newly appointed librarian he travelled to London's School of Librarianship and toured over one hundred libraries in the U.K.

While in England, Dr. SR Ranganathan saw that the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) was the most popular system in use. His analytical mind quickly discovered its fundamental deficiency and its inability to express all the aspects of a specific subject of a document. He also thought that a classification system should allow for future subjects to be combined in unexpected or unplanned ways. In his mind DDC was neither prepared nor adequate to provide for the future situations.

Whether people are looking for resource books to help them with literature courses, electronic courses on Mobile Phones, interior decoration or language study they should be able to find a wide variety of appropriate reading material quickly and easily.

The DDC is not necessarily the quickest or easiest; to keep in mind he decided to devise a system of his own. Shortly afterward he began work on his classification scheme which he called the Colon Classification (CC).Ranaganathan started a Library Science School in Madras in 1929 where he taught both DDC and CC. Over his lifetime, he wrote over 2000 research papers, 60 books and founded and edited five periodical publications.

Ranganathan's chief technical contributions to library science were in classification and indexing theory. His Colon Classification (1933) introduced a system that iswidely used in research libraries around theworld and that has affected the evolution of such older systems as the Dewey Decimal Classification. Later he devised the technique of chain indexing for deriving subject-index entries.

His Five Laws of Library Science (1931) was widely accepted as a definitive statement of the ideal of library service. He also drafted plans for a national and several state library systems, founded and edited several journals, and was active in numerous professional associations.

Colon Classification is the system of library organization developed by Ranganathan in 1933. It is general rather than specific in nature, and it can create complex or new categories through the use of facets, or colons. In it, there are 108 main classes and 10 generalized classes (broadly divided between the humanities and sciences), which are represented by a mixed notation of Arabic numerals and Roman and Greek letters. Each main class comprises five fundamental facets, or groups: personality,

Ranganathan's main contribution to classification was the notion of these fundamental facets, or categories. Instead of schedules of numbers for each topic, Colon Classification uses series of short tables from which component numbers are chosen and linked by colons to form a whole. The book number is an integral part of the call number, a departure from Dewey or Library of Congress systems.

Each main class has its appropriate facets and focuses; e.g., literature has language and form. In addition, there are four floating tables that correspond to subdivisions -- e.g., form, geography, time, and language. Further expansion of the tables is allowed through colon addition or omission (if the subject cannot be expanded).

The collection of the University of Madras, India, was utilized in the creation of Colon Classification.

Digitised E-Books of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan by DLIST, The University of Arizona Campus Repository (University Libraries)

Books on Dr. S.R. Ranganathan:

His Life @ a Glance

He was educated at the Hindu High School in Shiyali, at Madras Christian College (where he took B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics in 1913 and 1916), and at Teachers College, Saidapet.

In 1917 he joined the faculty of Government College, Mangalore.

From 1920 to 1923 he subsequently taught at Government College, Coimbatore, and at Presidency College, University of Madras, in 1921-1923

In 1924 he was appointed first librarian of the University of Madras, and in order to fit himself for the post he traveled to England to study at University College, London.

From 1925 to 1944 he took up the job at Madras in earnest in 1925 and held it until 1944.

From 1945 to 1954 he served as librarian and as professor of library science at Hindu University in Varanasi (Banaras), and from 1947 to 1954 he taught at the University of Delhi.

From 1954 to 1957 he was engaged in research and writing in Zürich.

He returned to India in the latter year and served as visiting professor at Vikram University, Ujjain, until 1959.

In 1962 he founded and became head of the Documentation Research and Training Centre in Bangalore, with which he remained associated for the rest of his life, and in 1965 he was honoured by the Indian government with the title of national research professor in library science.

Dr. S R Ranganathan is considered to be the father, the doyen, messiah of library and information profession in India.

Ranganathan’s Association with ILA

Ranganathan was closely associated with ILA right from its inception till 1954 ie, for about two decades. In fact, Mr K M Asadullah who convened the first All India Library Conference in Calcutta in the year 1933, requested Dr Ranganathan to be its president. But Ranganathan declined this offer as he was busy with the work of Madras University Library and Madras Library Association. However, he agreed to be one of the Conveners of the Conference.Ranganathan drafted the Constitution of the proposed Indian Library Association on behalf of the Madras Library Association. There were two more drafts-one from the Working Committee and one from the Simla Library Association. Hence a two member committee with Mr Ranganathan and Mr Montague of Simla was appointed to finalise the Constitution. This was adopted on 13 Sep 1933 and thus ILA was founded.Ranganathan enrolled himself as the first life member of ILA. He was President, ILA for nearly a decade upto 1953.When Ranganathan become the President of ILA he was not a member of the Executive Committee of the Association. It was an embarrassment for him when it was pointed out at the EC meeting held in Patna in 1946. Ranganathan then realised the need for amendment to the constitution as the President had no powers except to preside the general body meeting once in two years. Ranganathan got the constitution of the Association revised and adopted in 1949 at the Nagpur Conference.In the revised Constitution of 1949, the functions of the President were clearly laid-down. He was made the custodian of the constitution with full control over the affairs of the Association.PublicationsPapers for the Biennial Conference: A few months before the biennial conference, Ranganathan appointed an ad hoc Committee to select two or three subject groups in which papers should be solicited for the conference. Facets of each subject group were spelt-out well in advance. The ad hoc committee was also assigned the task of selection of papers, editing, standardization, publication, etc.Publication Series in English: A publication series in English was initiated in 1949. A sub-committee consisting of the President, Secretary and one Assistant Secretary was appointed for this purpose. Between 1949-53, seven titles were published under this series.Publication Series in Hindi: A series was also initiated in Hindi. Three of the books of Dr Ranganathan translated into Hindi by Mr M L Nagar were published.

In 1949 itself, it was decided to publish a research periodical in English; Another periodical giving a few papers of a slightly lower standard; and a periodical in Hindi.Finally it was resolved to make all there quarterlies issued simultaneously under one and the same cover under the title Abgila.A (Annals) B (Bulletin) G (GrantJialaya) of ILA (Indian Library Association). Union CatalogueDr Ranganathan took-up the project of the compilation of the Union Catalogue of Learned Periodicals in South Asia and completed it successfully on behalf of the ILA. This has fetched a few thousand rupees to ILA.During 1992 the Association organised functions to celebrate the Birth Centenary of Dr. S.R. Rnaganathan,the doyan of library science and librarianship in India. The Filately Division of the Department of Post, Government of India, released a Postel Stamp in honour of Ranganathan at the Official Opening of IFLA General Conference on August 30,1992. The stamp release function was performed by Hon'ble Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Arjun Singh in the Siri Fort Auditorium. The Plennary Session of IFLA was also devoted to Dr S R Ranganathan.The XXXVIII All India Library Conference of the Indian Library Association held at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar was dedicated to Dr S R Ranganathan. A large number of Indian and foreign Library Science journals released special numbers on S R Ranganathan.

Dr. S.R. Ranganathan Biography on Web

Most widely held works by S. R Ranganathan

Colon classification
The five laws of library science
Prolegomena to library classification
Ramanujan, the man and the mathematician
On the life and achievements of Srinivasa Ramanujan Aiyangar, 1887-1920, Indian mathematician.
Library book selection
Reference service
Classified catalogue code, with additional rules for dictionary catalogue code
Library manual, for library authorities, librarians, and honorary library workers
Library administration
Free book service for all; an international survey
A Librarian looks back : an autobiography of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan by S R Ranganathan and P N Kaula

Articles on Dr. Ranganathan.

Some New Photographs of Dr. SRR

The family on a sight-seeing visit (summer 1954), SRR rarely joined in, preferrring to write at home or to visit the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). Family; Sarada; Yogeshwar, R; Switzerland; Einsiedeln; 1954. Source : http://www.isibang.ac.in/~library/portal/Pages/photo.htm

Sarada and SRR with Christiane Chomi (1954). Christiane, a Luxembourgan, was studying Arts and Fashion Design in Zurich. Family; Sarada; Daughter-in-law; Christiane Chomi; 1954; Zurich; Switzerland

Temple; Pasupathinathan Temple; Annamalainagar; Raja Annamalai Chettiar; Annamalai Chettiar, Raja; Meenakshi College; where SRR presented his Five Laws of Library Science first at a Conference of Teachers in this College in 1928

Dr. SRR at Meenakshi College, 1920; Annamalainagar; Raja Annamalai Chettiar; Annamalai Chettiar, Raja; Five Laws

The Minakshi College is now a part of the Annamalai University. This building was completed by 1928 and has since been extended over the years. SRR presented his Five Laws for the first time in public to over 1,000 teachers here at the Educational Conference of South India, Dec. 1928

University of Delhi, honoured SRR, conferring on him D.Litt, 07 March 1948. "His reputation as a Librarian extends far beyond the borders of his own country and his opinion and advice are valued in all lands ..."

North Beach Road, Madras, 1895. Madras Christian College, where SRR studied, was located further north on this road. (Picture scanned from a greeting card.) It was moved in 1937 to a new campus of about 150 hectares in Tambaram, south of Madras.Education; College; Madras Christian College; Madras; 1895

SMH Higher Secondary School, Shiyali. SRR studied in this school from 1897 to 1909 prior to joining the Madras Christian College. Education; School; Secondary School; SMH Higher Secondary School; Shiyali; 1897-1909

Padmashri. Investiture in Delhi, 29 October 1957 by Dr. Ragendra Prasad, President of India. "An international authority on library science, (he) .... is a member of the International Library Committee of the United Nations. ... "

Ranganathan as a student, 1913. Education; College; Madras Christian College; Madras; Student; 1913

London School of Librarianship. Morley House was the epicentre of British Librarianship. SRR studied under W.C. Berwick Sayers at the school located here in 1924-25. Education; Library Science; London; London School of Librarianship; Morley House, 1924-1925; Foskett, D.J.; Ross, Edward Burns; Sayers, W.C.Berwick

Students' Home, Madras Christian College, 1912-13.SRR lived in the Home during his graduate studies. Education; College; Madras Christian College; Madras; Students' Home 1912-1913

Presidency College, Madras. SRR was Asst Professor of Mathematics in this government college when he applied for the new post of University Librarian

Send-off from Presidency College, Madras. Leaving Mathematics and teaching had not been easy for SRR. His colleagues and the principal had given him great moral support. The year was 1924. Departure to London; Farewell; Madras University; Presidency College; Madras

Reading room at Senate House. New designs for furniture and equipment were tried out in collaboration with an expert in cabinet making, C. Seshachalam. Madras University; Library; Senate House; Reading Room; Madras

New University Complex. In 1936, the Administrative offices and the University Library were moved into new premises on the Madras Marina.

Library Wing. The library wing was planned, designed and built to suit its purpose. SRR had collaborated closely with all concerned. It is probably the first such instance in India. The library started operations in the new premises on 03 Sept. 1936.

Stack room at Senate House. The stack room was in the basement. For the first time, free open access was introduced for browsing documents arranged subjectwise. Prototypes of shelves and guides were tested out. Trained staff helped readers with advice.Madras University; Library; Senate House; Stack room; Open access; Madras

Reading room (1999). The original equipment continues to be relevant even after six decades, with only minor changes like CFLs in place of incandescent lamps.Madras University; Library; Marina; Building; Equipment; 1999; Madras

First University Course in Librarianship, 1932 Students and Teachers. A training course in librarianship had been started by the Madras Library Association earlier and was taken over by the University in 1931. SRR was the main teacher assisted by his colleagues at the library, whom he had earlier trained, often "at the job".

Delhi University. Department of Library Science, 1949-50. The first batch. P.K. Garde had joined as a teacher. Delhi University; Library Science; Department of Library Science; Delhi Course, 1949-1950; Teachers; Garde, P.K

Delhi University. Department of Library Science, 1950-51. M.L. Nagar had replaced P.K. Garde.

DRTC, 16 Aug. 1962. M.R. Narasimha Iyengar speaks. Documentation; Training; Research; Documentation Research and Training Centre; Malleswaram; Bangalore; DRTC; Inauguration; Shrinagabhushana; Narasimha Iyengar, M.R.; Narasimhaiah, H; Iyengar, M.R.N.; 1962

DRTC Inaguration by Dr. C.D. Deshmukh, 16 Aug. 1962. Welcome by A. Neelameghan. Documentation; Training; Research; Documentation Research and Training Centre; DRTC; Malleswaram; Bangalore; Inauguration; Deshmukh, C.D; Srinagabhushana; Narasimha Iyengar, M.R.; Narasimhaiah, H; Neelameghan, A; 1962

B.I. Palmer presented the first SRELS Lecture, 1965. Documentation; Library Science; Training; Research; Documentation Research and Training Centre; DRTC; Malleswaram; Bangalore; SRELS Lecture; Palmer, Bernard I; 1965

Discations on Library Science along Malleswaram side streets during early morning walks, 1963. SRR "lived" his Science all the time. Some of his students and colleagues came to realise this and used to join him on his walks and actively exchange ideas with him

Friends and associates since over 2 decades. SRR and Palmer first met in Madras during World War II. Palmer became the missionary to propagate SRR's ideas in the UK. Since 1948, he coordinated personal exposure of SRR to the Library Science circles. Classification Research Group (CRG) was one outcome out of many. The two families became close friends.

Visitor from USA - Sara Vann. Documentation; Training; Research; Dcocumentation Research and Training Centre; Malleswaram; Bangalore; DRTC; Bhattacharyya, G; Vann, Sarah; Neelameghan, A; Narasimha Iyengar, M.R.

Group Discussions at DRTC Seminar, 1966. When it came to SRR in a scientific event like a seminar, the "space" and "time" facets were wide.

Participants at DRTC Seminar, 1966. Documentation; Training; Research; Documentation Research and Training Centre; DRTC; Malleswaram; Bangalore; DRTC; Annual Seminar, 1966; Participants; Garde, P.K; Saha, Jibanand; Saha, Mrs; Raghavendra Rao, B.V; Bhattacharyya, G; Bhattacharyya, Maya; Neelameghan, A

Technical Information Service in a Company, 1963. An efficient technical information service made the difference between a mere manufacturing company and a progressive pace-setter in the field. The service at HMT was built up with SRR's erstwhile students.

SRR's Concept of mobile rural library with bullock carts, 1930. The conceptual painting was shown at the Park Fair Exhibition, Madras, Dec. 1930

National Information Centre for Machine Tool and Production Technology, 1968. Central Machine Tools Institute, Bangalore (CMTI), was conceived to serve the metal working industry in India. Its functions were similar to those of DRTC. The original Information Centre of CMTI has since spun-off as the National Information Centre for Machine Tools and Production Technology

Founders of the Madras Library Association (MALA), 1928. MALA was founded by leading personalities on 30 Jan. 1928 at a meeting in the Senate House, Madras on the instigation of the All-India Public Libraries Association's secretaries, S.K. Ghosh and A. Venkataramanaiah in Dec. 1927. K.V. Krishnaswamy Ayyar was elected as President and SRR as one of 3 secretaries

MALA Summer School of Librarianship, 1930. The course was conducted at the Madras University Library by SRR with the assistance of the library staff

Actual mobile rural library with bullock cart, 1931. Kanakasabhai Pillai, an engineer, designed, had built and gifted the mobile library. It started serving the villages around Mannargudi in October 1931

Nobel Laureate in Physics C.V. Raman with MALA at Madras Senate House, 25 Mar. 1935. C.V. Raman, front row seventh from left, next to SRR

SRR's Mother Sitalakshmi with her 2 sons and 3 grandsons (1951). Left to right: Mrs and Mr Ramamritam II, Natesan with graddaughter Kalpakam, Sitalkshmi, SRR, SRR's son Yogeshwar, R, Venkataraman.

Letter to wife Rukmani from Aden (1924) en route to London.SRR and Rukmani (born 1896) were married in 1907. Rukmani died in a drowning accident in 1928, a few weeks before SRR announced his Five Laws of Library Science. SRR and Rukmani had no children.

Seeing their son off at Bombay harbour (March 1952). Already since June 1951, the Delhi home consisted only of SRR, Sarada and SRR's mother. SRR used to go abroad very often.

Mrs. Sarada Ranganathan with her brother, step mother and father (ca 1927). Lakshmana's first wife died when Sarada was a year old. The family was based in Coimbatore where Lakshmana was a businessman. Her eldest brother Kalyana was an engineer. Sarada (born 1908) married SRR in 1929

SRR's Son Yogeshwar, SRR and Sarada (June 1937).Son Yogeshwar was born 1932 when SSR 40. He used to wear western style suits till about 1938. From then on till India became independent, he wore only traditional Indian clothes. His son's hairstyle was typically South Indian Brahmin.

Sarada and SRR with Christiane Chomi (1954). Christiane, a Luxembourgan, was studying Arts and Fashion Design in Zurich

Sarada and SRR in Zurich (summer 1954). Sarada's first visit abroad. SRR attended many professional events in Europe, while Sarada stayed in Zurich during the summer.

The family on a sight-seeing visit (summer 1954). SRR rarely joined in, preferrring to write at home or to visit the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)

SRR could captivate children, Zurich (1955). Friends; Sussman, Dahlia; Dahlia Sussman; Zurich; Switzerland; 1955

SRR and Sarada pondering about the future, Switzerland (1954). SRR could not agree to his son marrying a foreigner. Sarada was reserved about her opinion

Sarada enjoyed children, Zurich (1955). Family; Sarada; Friends; Sussman, Anat; Anat Sussman; Zurich; Switzerland; 1955

Accepting break of tradition, Luxembourg (1959). SRR spent 2 days with his twin grandsons Pierre Kalyana and Ranganathan Gr?goire when they were 3 months old.

Sarada with her grandchildren, Bangalore (1964). Pierre Kalyana, Ranganathan Gr?goire, Tau Jeanne Sarada and their grandmother Sarada got along wonderfully. SRR usually was busy with his professional companions.

SRR and G.A. Srinivasan, Madras (1923). SRR and G.A. Srinivasan (GAS) first met on 07 July 1921 as Mathematics teacher colleagues in the Presidency College, Madras and became lifelong friends. GAS moved SRR to remarry after Rukmani's death

G.A. Srinivasan and family in new house. GAS named his new house after SRR. The 'thread ceremony' of SRR's son was held there in 1946

http://www.isibang.ac.in/~library/portal/Pages/photo.htm

With academic colleagues. In SRR's circle of friends, summer holidays were strictly male events! Wives stayed at home or went to their parents with the children.