Replies to This Forum

Permalink Reply by Dr. N K Pachauri on May 28, 2014 at 5:09

As a librarian I am not happy with the profession, because there are various issues related to our profession……..

1. Status issue at work place and society

2. Salary and stipend = MNREGA Mazadoor

3. Exploitation in private sector

4. Non teaching Cadre in school/ college and university

5. Unemployment

6. No promotion opportunities for Librarians/ Asst. Librarians in school/ college and university.

7. Condition of School and Public libraries

8. Working Condition and pay scales of Public Libraries

9. No post of librarian sanction in UP State Government senior secondary school 

10. No post of librarians in ITIs

11. Less pay bands for librarians in Engineering College and Polytechnic colleges (AICTE norms)

12. Library act/ Legislation is still pending in more than one dozen states

13. Implication of Library act/ Legislation in various states.

14. Our salary is 900 to 2,500 per month, but our expenditure on education is Rs. 22,000/=.

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Permalink Reply by raaga on June 3, 2014 at 17:33

Thank u Pachauri sir, for listing out all the problems our professionals are facing. 

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Permalink Reply by Prateek on June 4, 2014 at 23:19

Respected Sir, 

Being a publisher and a close associate of many librarians, I do second your emotions but will slightly disagree and will like to give you an example of my elderly and very dear associate Dr. V.G. Talawar, a humble personality and librarian by profession who went on to become the Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University.

kind regards,

Prateek

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Permalink Reply by raaga on June 9, 2014 at 19:28

Hi Prateek Sir,

A boost up reply from your side which we people can energize ourselves. Thank u

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Permalink Reply by Siddu on June 17, 2014 at 0:33

Dear Prateek,
People like VG Talwar's are an aberration and not a rule for any profession. Time has drastically changed from Prof. Talwar's time to present time.
You are comparing the profession, the challenges, the opportunities of two different aeons!
What Pachauri has listed is the present reality of our profession.
Opportunities do exist but they do not abound unlike earlier periods. But challenges do.
Therefore, I feel your example (comparison) is widely off the mark.

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Permalink Reply by Abhijeet Ramesh Vitekar on March 28, 2023 at 17:27

You are absolutely right. In private sector "na ghar ka na ghat ka" like that situation.

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Permalink Reply by Siddhartha Shankar Ray on May 28, 2014 at 14:22

Dear Ms. Raga,

Thanks for your post where you addressed an issue openly squarely and above all honestly. I very much appreciate your last sentence where you expressed your feeling quite honestly. 

I think, probably this is for the first time I am feeling sort of confused in replying as the genuineness and warmth of your question is so touching.

You see, truly speaking, accepting the profession of LIS in many cases are compelling and not by passion (for the profession)  I meant to say that probably none of us had a dream to be a Librarian as one dreams to be a Doctor, or Engineer or even a Teacher. So you see that it was not a cherished job. Majority (or virtually almost all of us) came to this profession to get a job which seemingly is less hazardous, virtually non transferable, academic in nature, offering clean, decent and peaceful working environment, especially for ladies etc.

The term HAPPINESS as you wanted to mean, is a relative matter and we all know that;its definition is different for every two individual. Ideally speaking, in work place, if we ENJOY the place with all its surroundings like, Environment, Colleagues, Nature of job, Degree of recognition Scope for advancement (I have a very fond term for this!) and financial issue. I have kept the issue of finance (meaning Salary & parks) at the last which, for many of us should come first. but you see, money alone can not always buy happiness. You ask a College Librarian getting envious salary whether s/he is happy and in most cases the reply will be negative. They will highlight lack of recognition and appreciation, lack of job satisfaction etc. etc, A professional in a public Library will grumble about infrastructure and pay, a private sector employee will accuse employer for less pay, insecurity of job & ill treatment etc. So, we should first set our priority what I need most. high Salary ,or Decent environment, Cordial atmosphere,  recognition & appreciation, scope for advancement & autonomy of work (I call it in terms of Airlines people Leg Space) You see if you get a decent environment where you are safe and composed, it automatically makes you happy. Of course Salary is an extremely important factor and no body will deny it. (after all, we all came to the profession to earn money to look after our family and if we can not maintain our family all big words vanish into the blues!!) but on second thought, is it all & everything, probably not. Say, If I am not safe and secured in my workplace, if I have to compromise  virtually into every steps to retain my job offering quite a decent salary & exquisite parks, how shall I feel. Once ( some Twenty+ years ago, I applied for a job in a highly recognized Corporate sector. The "interview" was held in the form of discussion over cups of Coffee on a sprawling lawn overlooking a swimming pool of a 7 star Hotel and at the end of the discussion, we shook hands, I was told Welcome to our Company; it is a paradise for young bachelor executives!!), I went to their R&D (they provided my both Way Airfare and all hospitality) to see the environment. However, upon seeing the junior staff of the KRC  (Knowledge Resource Centre) majority of whom had all disposition except any formal education in Librarianship or the subject of Research. I instantly sensed that this is not the right place for me and I left within less than 50 hours. When I came back to my institute amidst discussions on deadly bacterias, viruses & parasites, I honestly had a sigh of relief. Incidentally, one of the Top executives of the Company  had been flying with me in the same aircraft a few weeks ago and they hired me as the chief of the KRC offering more than three times of Salary and excellent parks. As a person coming from a educated Middle Class Bengali family with certain (arguably orthodox) values, I opted to decline one of the best offers in my life. 

So you see the concept of happiness really varies from man to man. I had been extremely happy, in my previous place of job for the first 12 years. later with change in administration, my situation started changing and all on a sudden I switched over to a Social Science Institute having an extremely dusty & shabby Library. after a decade, at the new campus, I had an airy 3 storied AC Library wing with very warm and devoted colleagues. Later, I was asked by my ex institute to rejoin there but I declined it. As I walk into my Library and look around, it fills my heart with satisfaction and pleasure. You can call it Happiness if you like!

Sincerely,

Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta

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Permalink Reply by Manjunath K S on May 28, 2014 at 18:01

Definitely I will call it happiness sir. Money is not a matter always but we put our sincere effort on our job money and the status will come automatically. I agreed some institutions are not providing good salary and the status also non-teaching this is the very big drawback in our profession.

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Permalink Reply by raaga on June 3, 2014 at 18:16

Dear Manjunath sir, Keep up the positive spirit. Agreed sincere efforts never fail.

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Permalink Reply by Dr.Tuhina Choudhury DebRoy on May 28, 2014 at 18:42

Dear Ray Sir, I agree with you in every aspect. Mental satisfaction is what we need most. I was a school librarian for nearly 9 years  in 3 schools and in those years I arranged and developed the libraries with utmost care and sincerity. After that I joined University library as a professional Assistant and along with my work load pursued my career. I have cleared UGC NET and completed Ph.D. I have never mixed my work with my studies.I am still in the same post. But I have no regret. I am satisfied with my job and I try to give 100%. If oppurtunity for better post comes on my way I will surely try. But at present I am dedicated to my work. Sir ur reply has inspired me a lot as every one around me is dissatisfied and carries a negative attitude with them. 

Warm regards,

Tuhina

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Permalink Reply by Siddhartha Shankar Ray on May 28, 2014 at 20:50

Thanks Dr. Tuhina Choudhury Deb Roy,

Thank you so very much.

Always be like this. Keep the spirit. Success will follow you. You may not be a very rich person, but certainly you will have peace & joy and people around you will busk on your warmth and this is not a small matter you will realize it with age.

What you have mentioned, has always been my own philosophy. When I left my earlier job (where I started a Library all by myself and nurtured it to become one of the best of its kind in Eastern& Noth Eastern India for 15 invaluable years of my life, I have dedicated my entire youth and all ts dreams and declined many decent jobs including those in Foreign Diplomatic Missions!!), to join a job in a Library of entirely different discipline, completely unknown to me,  for a brief stint of time, I were really confused. But as I had taken a firm decision, there was no looking back. Now, after another 15 years, I admit that I had taken a right decision. Over these years, I could develop yet another  Library which is foremost of its kind in the Eastern & North Eastern India. Thanks to my Management and my excellent colleagues. I have just one regret, my earlier Library, is virtually ruined.Neither the Management nor the Researchers expect anything from the Library any longer!! 

Wish you good luck for all your future professional ventures.

Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta

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Permalink Reply by raaga on June 3, 2014 at 18:26

Dear Madam,

Appreciate your dedication and sincerity. It was my experience at school which gave me utmost satisfaction, I had enjoyed the every moment with kids which still i miss. The job satisfaction what i had got there can never be replaced at any other place. Thank you so much for your valuable response.

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