On behalf of Ingetraut Dahlberg I am sending an obituary for P.N. Kaula by our former ISKO member M.P. Satija
Mit freundlichen Gruessen, With kind regards, Sincères salutations, H. Peter OHLY ------------------------------------- An Obituary of Prof. PN Kaula: Professor P.N. Kaula: Another Titan Gone Professor Prithvi Nath Kaula who died suddenly at the age of 85 on 30th August 2009 at Lucknow due to cardiac arrest lived his life to the full and to the last lees. He was born to a Kashmiri Brahmin school teacher in Sri Nagar on 25th March 1924. Thirst for knowledge brought him from Kashmir to Madras to study Library Science. Perceiving the determination of the boy S.R. Ranganathan took him under his tutelage and admitted him in his class of 1944 first in Madras and then in at Benaras Hindu University. Kaula become his life long disciple who revered Ranganathan which became a living model of the ancient Indian Guru-Chela tradition. He avowed his professional achievements and status entirely to Ranganathan. Citing his own example he would quite often say that his Guru had the capacity to forge a man out of clay. Indeed he was an able and vocal ambassador of Ranganathan and Indian Librarianship. Professor Kaula was a man of many parts, who rose to become a highly experienced and most visible face of Indian Librarianship both at home and abroad. Only sky was his limit. A learned teacher, a voluble speaker, a hardworking and skilful editor and an organizer par excellence, he had many "firsts" to his credits including the first full professorship in India that was at BHU. He had a penchant to parade his achievements to inspire lesser professionals like us. Indeed the catalogue of his achievements and recognitions in the form of many festschrifts, medals, documentaries, full length books, citations, nominations and invitations is long, varied and truly unique. It culminates with the covetous award of Padmashri by the President of India in 2004. He deemed that as recognition of the Indian library profession and blessings of his guru from his heavenly abode. Entrusting his ailing wife to the tender cares of his son, like Ulysses he will not rest from travel nor could resist it to conquer new and far away professional territories till the death closed it all.. He lived no life other than of librarianship. Fame never spoiled his head with haughtiness who eagerly communicated with mighty and laity. Humility was his hallmark. He always spotted talent and encouraged it and awarded, too. Many a green horn has become authors due to his grooming and guidance. He would spend hours on an article sent by a budding professional to correct and polish it to make it publishable. For promotion of librarianship he established a family trust named after him. Therein he found a dedicated Secretary, Dr Velaga Venkatappiah, who served him selflessly. One major function of the trust is to recognize without compromise internationally meritorious professionals to award them with Kaula Gold Medals. His awardees which include Bernard Palmer, Dean Jesse Shera and Allen Gilchrist make a tally of noble laureates of the library profession. For home the trust instituted Ranganathan-Kaula Medal. Being a prolific and lucid author he has left behind a voluminous body of writings in the form of books, articles, lectures reports, editorials, and notes and news. Yet he will be remembered for his journal Herald of Library Science that he founded 45years ago. It is a peerless model in format and contents. Writing came naturally and effortlessly to him. He always advised his followers to practice work chastity and work more than you are paid for. Indeed he did what he preached. In his death we have lost an able advocate, a guiding force which will be missed for long. It closes another era of librarianship having a direct link with Ranganathan. Such heroic lives are not mourned but celebrated and deified. Prof. M.P.Satija Trustee, Kaula Endowment in Library and Information Science; and Executive Member, IATLIS Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Email: satija...@yahoo .com
