Forwarded message from Dr. F.J.Devadason. Best Regards, Kottai -----Original Message----- From: F.J.Devadason [mailto:devadason_f_j@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2006 5:54 AM To: Kottai, A (IE10) Subject: Re: Prof.Ganesh Bhattacharya - Passed away Please send this mesaage to all whom you think fit. Thanks Devadason ================================================= Professor Ganesh Bhattacharyya Prof. Bhattacharyya as many of you might know was my teacher, colleague and best friend. My first association with him was in 1969, when I joined the Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC) as a student. I met Prof. Neelameghan first, and was happy that it would be fine to be a student there. But when I met Prof. Bhattacharya "Oh my goodness" (an expression which he uses often in private communications), I was really terrified and thought that it would be a tiresome affair to spend the rest of the 14 months in DRTC with this Professor. He was the very nature of Bengal (tiger) in his frowning expression, absolute strictness with regard to assignments and insistence on precise communication in writing and speaking. "If you are not clear in what you say or write, then there is some aberration in your thinking" he used to say. But after a few months I realized that beneath that shell (it is an egg shell, actually) there is a soft and humane nature full of compassion and helping attitude. He was fully dedicated to his work starting from the job of newspaper delivery boy to supplement his parents' income to support his studies until his retirement as Professor and Head of DRTC and the Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore Branch. He was a faithful disciple of Dr. S.R. Ranganathan fully devoted to expanding and extending his research. He has made several significant contributions to the field of Library and Information Science, his most significant contribution being the development of the Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing System (POPSI). Whosesoever would ever think of producing an approximation to classified sequence (organizing sequence) in alphabetic arrangement of subject headings. He thought about it and did it. He also proposed "Classaurs" a faceted vocabulary control and indexing tool. He was a very good teacher with clear interpretation of fundamental principles and theories delivered with several illustrative examples. He was a good orator. A lecture on "The Central Theme of Baghavath Gheetha" was arranged by the "Ladies Club of Malleswaram, Bangalore". Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission gave the lecture. It was such a wonderful presentation that everyone was spell bound. When Swami Ranganathananda finished his oration, Prof. Bhattacharyya rose to give a Vote of Thanks as per the scheduled programme. At the same time almost everyone stood up, applauded and started to leave, as they all know very well, that after such a presentation by Swami Ranganathananda there would be nothing of importance afterwards. Prof. Bhattacharyya called in a loud voice "Ladies and Gentlemen" and at the same time removed his famous brown colour coat in his characteristic style. Hanging it on the back of the chair he continued "Is it not appropriate for us to spend just 5 more minutes to thank Swami Raganathananda who had been standing for almost one hour to enlighten us?" The whole crowd just sat down in absolute silence equally spell bound, and Professor Bhattacharyya spoke for about 10 minutes drawing an equally prominent applause for his vote of thanks. He was fully and totally dedicated to DRTC and devoted his full time for the development of the institute. In fact, it is he who initiated PhD programme with Karnatak University but for which none in DRTC would have had the chance of doing PhD in Library and Information Science in India. Almost all the students of DRTC have been immensely benefited by Prof. Bhattacharyya's teaching. His presentations and papers have been widely acknowledged. My research work was totally based on his work and it would not have been possible for me to do my work but for his work. I am extremely sad to hear about his departure, but I am sure his work will stand to the benefit of many. I express my sympathy to all his relatives and especially to his daughters Bobli and Lovely and their family members. May God give them the strength to withstand this loss and wisdom to move forward. F.J. Devadason --- "Kottai, A (IE10)" <Kottai.A@honeywell.com> wrote:
Dear Dr.Devadason, FYI. Regards, Kottai
-----Original Message----- From: lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in [mailto:lis-forum-bounces@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in] On Behalf Of krish@isibang.ac.in Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 9:48 AM To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Subject: [LIS-Forum] Sad Demise
Dear Professionals,
Prof.Ganesh Bhattacharya, Former Head, DRTC Passed away at around 18.00 hrs on Monday, 26th June, 2006.
M.Krishnamurthy
-------------------------- Dr.M.Krishnamurthy Librarian Indian Statistical Institute, 8th Mile Mysore Road Bangalore 560059 Ph: 91-80-28483002/3/4 Fax: 91-80-28484265
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