Hello Friends: September 27 like January 30 is a day of remembrance. While the Mahatma Gandhi passed his last breath on January 30, 1948, on September 27, 1972 - exactly 40 years back- S R Ranganathan left this world. During Indian independence movement days Ranganathan received a telegram from Mahatma to go over to Sewagram, near Wardha, Maharashtra to discuss about library development in India. Ranganathan, when he joined the Madras University took a vow that he will never avail any leave of absence until his retirement. As such, he sought the advice of Rajaji-C. Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of Free India- a close associate of Gandhi. Rajaji asked Ranganathan to reply to Gandhi that he would meet with him after his retirement. SRR did so. Ranganathan retired from Madras University in 1942. But his aged mother who wanted to visit Kashi Viswanath asked SRR to take her to Varanasi. Ranganathan replied to Gandhi that he would meet him on his return journey from Varanasi as his first duty was to fulfill the promise he made to his mother. Mahatma on receipt of the message sent cow's milk to Ranganathan's mother to Wardha Railway station. Although an orthodox in nature, his mother had a bath at Wardha station and drank the milk so graciously sent by Mahatma. Ranganathan wanted to meet Gandhi on his return from Benares, but Mahatma went on fast due to Hindu -Muslim riots and the Father of library science could never meet the father of the Nation. Thus, both the leaders – Mahatma and Ranganthan - proved themselves as KARMAYOGIs in the real sense of the word. For both of them WORK is WORSHIP. Ps:- This was narrated by Dr Ranganathan in one of our class at DRTC.I have published this anecdote in a magazine Day Star, December 1972 p.9,10.under the title Karma yogi Dr.SR Rangantan. I used to mention this during Librarians Day on August 12 at Hyderabad. My apologies for reposting this story after 10 years as I did in 2002. Regards, Deva Eswar Reddy Texas A&M University -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.