Ramchandra Potdar : Multifaceted Librarian. (1928 – 2013) Rambhau (eldest son of Dr. P.B. Potdar) was born on 28th Jan 1928 and brought up and educated at Akola (Vidharbha). He started his career as librarian of Shree Sanatan dharma Sabha library, Akola in 1949. It is worth mentioning that all his 4 brothers and sister also worked there as his successor in the same library and from the last 64 years the Potdar family devoted themselves for the development of this library and brought this public library to repute. This may be the record of the public librarian's profession in the history of the public libraries in Maharashtra. Rambhau was the student of the first batch of dept. of library and information science, Nagpur university in 1957. He got inspiration from late Mr. P.S. Phadake university librarian, late Mr. K.M. Ujalambakar, late K.D. Puranik then assistant director and director of libraries of Maharashtra state respectively and joined Vidharbh public library movement and taken active parts for the development of the public libraries of this region. After his L.I.S. education, he joined Khairagad Sangeet university as Asstt. Librarian and then joined C.P.& Berar college Nagpur. In the year 1964, he joined Nagpur university library and retired in year 1986. During this service he also worked as librarian of l.R.T. Commerce College, Akola on lin and rejoined the university library. After his retirement from the university library on request from the management of the colleges he joined as librarian of H.V.P.M Degree College of Physical Education Amravati, college of engineering Pusad, college of engineering Shegaon to develop their libraries. Rambhau had another facet i.e. journalism. Prior to join library profession, he worked in the different capacities in the editorials sections of Nagpur Samachar, Dainik Matrubhoomi Akola and Nav Hind Times Goa. He did his bachelor of journalism from the Nagpur University. Further, he has delivered radio talks and written articles on different aspects of librarianship journals like Granthpal, Sahitya Sahakar, Granth Parivar etc.... He has written books "Shighra Kase Vachave", Granthalain Grantha Bandhani, Shaleya Granthay, Vidyathyanchi Vachanabhiruchi also edited books like Maharashtra Book World, Vidharbhatil Niwadak Granthachi Granth Suchi, Granthanche Pustak and Abhanga Ramayan (written by his late father Dr. P.B. Potdar). He published these entire books himself thru his Rambandhu Prakashan. During his service as librarian he established Mitra Sahakar Mandal a Registered organization which was established to collect personal valuable books and donated more than 40000 books to public libraries. For this work he was awarded Sant Dyaneshwar Bhushan, Rajya Stariya Gaurav Puraskar in 2012. He was the eldest son in the family with 4 brothers & 1 sister. From his inspiration most of the family members joined library profession. Jayram Potdar hold the post of librarian at Regional languages Library, New Delhi and Shriram Potdar retired as university librarian from Amravati university and Sharau Joshi as the librarian of Govt. Polytechnic Pune. It is worth mentioning that 7 other members of the family have worked in library profession.
From his father, he continued his legacy as musician and used to play organ
for Natya Sangeet. He was having 100 yrs. old Organ. He passed away on 28th Nov 2013 at his residence, Jayashree colony, Savedi, Ahmadnagar at the age of 86 and left his wife and 2 daughters and entire Potdar family. We all library Professionals pay homage on his sad demise. -- -- Thanks and Regards, Ajay M. Kamble Librarian Annasaheb Vartak Arts, Commerce, Science College, Vasai Road (W), Dist. Thane - 401202 www.mlsc.co.nr www.ajaykamble.co.nr -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.