From: M N Seetharaman, Ex. Head, Information Centre for Aeronautics, NAL, Bangalore Dear library professionals, I join my colleague and friend, Mr. Gouda, in paying my own humble tributes to Prof. A. Neelameghan. Dr. Poornima Narayana, Head, ICAST, NAL, Bangalore, broke the sad news to me about the professor's demise just as the cortege was about to leave his house in Malleswaram. Sadly, therefore, I could not join the funeral procession, much as I wished to do so and pay my last respects to the learned professor. I have known Prof. Neelameghan ever since he joined DRTC way back in 1962. For over 5 decades now, I was fortunate to have had a very close and personal relationship with him. He was indeed a friend, philosopher and guide to me during my tenure of service in NAL. It is no exaggeration to say that thanks to his guidance and help, we at NAL Library were able to develop the Library as one of the sectoral information centres under NISSAT. Thanks, again, to his help along with that of Prof. S. Parthasarathy, my colleagues and I were able to take up a major telecom project during 1981, perhaps for the first time in India, to access online the databases of the European Space Agency, Frascati, Rome, Italy, on experimental basis. This demonstration of online access to remote databases can be said to be the precursor and herald the advent of Internet later on. Prof. Neelameghan was instrumental in getting a grant of US$25,000 for this project from UNESCO and NAL Library was perhaps the only Library at that time to have imported IBM computers as remote terminals as well as for library house-keeping functions. We would always cherish his memory in the treasury of our remembrance for his guidance and help for this project. During my long association with the Prof., I had always found him to be soft, quiet, modest and unassuming. He never threw any airs or bragged about his extensive knowledge and experience as a teacher/researcher in DRTC and as an UNESCO expert who carried out successfully several assignments abroad. I have always had the highest regards and respects for him all through our very long association and relationship. I feel deeply sad to think that such a great genius is no longer among us to guide and help us in our professional activities. Striking a personal note, I feel as if I have lost my own elder brother, friend and philosopher. I pray to God Almighty to make his soul rest in peace and give moral strength to members of the bereaved family to bear this unbearable loss. M.N. Seetharaman Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 07:48:04 +0530

From: goudarishwar@googlemail.com To: fjayakanth@gmail.com; lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] Sad Demise of Prof. Neelameghan

Dear Professionals,

Yes, Prof. A. Neelameghan, an internationally acclaimed scholar in Library and Information Science and Former Professor and Head, DRTC, Bangalore passed away on 28th July. He was hospitalised for the last few months. He did his graduate and post-graduate studies in Chennai and advanced course in documentation and information in science in USA on Rockefeller Foundation and Fulbright scholarships. Worked in various special technical information centres in India before joining the Documentation Research and Training Centre, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, established by Dr. S.R.Ranganathan in 1962, retired as Professor and Head, in 1984. He was close associate of Dr. Ranganathan. The Sharada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science and Ranganathan Centre for Information Studies served the LIS community in a big way under his stewardship. Many professionals like me are indebted to this great teacher. Prof. Neelameghan's teaching, service and research resulting in more than 600 papers and 25 books(authored or edited). He extended his expertise in organising a number of national and international seminars and conferences ny number of institutions. He undertook Technical Assistance missions to developing countries in Asia, Arab League States, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean sponsored by UNESCO/PGI, UNDP, IDRC, etc. Initiated the regional information network ASTINFO for Asia. Even after retirement from UN civil service in 1986, he was very active in researching and publishing, especially in the area of Knowledge organisation.

I join the entire LIS community in condoling Prof. Neelameghan's sad demise. Let God bless his family members to bear this great loss. May his soul rest in peace.

Regards, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dr. I.R.N. Goudar - Visiting Professor Cum Library Adviser Bangalore University Library, Gnana Bharathi Campus BANGALORE - 560056, India - Ex. Visiting Professor Cum Library Adviser, UoM, Mysore - Ex. Scientist 'G' and Head, ICAST, NAL, Bangalore - Ex. Dy Librarian, IITM, Chennai - Ex. Scientist (Information), IICT, Hyderabad - Fulbright Scholar, Univ. of Michigan and Columbia Univ, USA (1995-96) - British Council Scholar (1982-83) E-mail: goudarishwar@gmail.com Tel: 080-23215510 Mob: 91+9611165781 (If not reachable pl try land line)

On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 1:05 PM, Francis Jayakanth <fjayakanth@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I was given to understand just a while ago from a very reliable source that Prof. A. Neelameghan, an internationally acclaimed scholar in Library and Information Science and former Professor and Head, DRTC, Bangalore, has passed away. Details are awaited.

My heartfelt condolences on the loss of a doyen in the field of LIS.

Francis Jayakanth IIMB, Bannerghatta Roa, Bg - 76

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Though I was not very close associate or a student of Dr.Neelameghan have seen his scholarly work, and heard of scholarly talk and about his achievement Really, he will remain in the minds of all in LIS field May god keep his soul in peace Dr.H.S.Siddamallaiah Visiting Professor, faculty of Informatics, Mahasarakham University, Thailand Former Principal Librarian and Information Officer NIMHANS, Bangalore, India On Tue, Jul 29, 2014 at 10:31 AM, jharavu <jharavu@gmail.com> wrote:

It is deeply saddening to learn that dear Prof. Neelameghan has passed away. He was truly a scholar, teacher, mentor and friend to me. I had the special privilege to be with him when he started the UNESCO course on Information Management in the Phillipines and later a similar course in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In Ethiopia we were together in the troubled times of that country in 1990 when the dictator Mengistu was overthrown. He was staying in the heart of Addis Ababa which was under attack. I persuaded him to come and stay with me in my quarters which was away from the heart of the city. I can never forget his humility, scholarship and his insights. The library profession has lost a gem from its midst.

I join the community in conveying my sincerest condolences to his family.

Haravu

On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 12:35 AM, Francis Jayakanth <fjayakanth@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I was given to understand just a while ago from a very reliable source that Prof. A. Neelameghan, an internationally acclaimed scholar in Library and Information Science and former Professor and Head, DRTC, Bangalore, has passed away. Details are awaited.

My heartfelt condolences on the loss of a doyen in the field of LIS.

Francis Jayakanth IIMB, Bannerghatta Roa, Bg - 76

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Dear friends I am shocked to receive the message. I was not a direct student of Prof Neelameghan, but he always took me as his pupil. 1. I came in contact with him at IASLIC long back when he was writing a monograph on Development of Medical Societies and Medical Periodicals in India. At that time he was with Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd., Pimpri. This gave impetus to select my Ph.D topic on Geoscience Documentation. Subsequently , when I was doing AIS from INSDOC, he advised me to take up a a UNESCO required project on Manpower in Library and Information Science in India as the dissertation. He used the data from my project extensively in a chapter of Encyclopedia written by him. Later when I joined INSDOC as a faculty we used to meet now and then. He was then associated with UNESCO. He was instrumental in getting a computer to INSDOC through UNESCO funding. He also arranged organization of a Unesco Workshop on Thesaurus Construction by Prof F.W.Lancaster at INSDOC. Whenever he used to come to India he used to visit INSDOC and delivered lectures to the student and Staff. His talk on Information Resource Management is cherished by me even to day. A teacher Par excellence When I joined IGNOU as Professor, He was one of the first person to wish me and subsequently he helped me in planning, programme development writing of study material and editing in number of courses on MLIS and PGDLAN. Whenever I called him to come to Delhi for any academic work he always obliged me. I will never forget his involvement in development of a course on Content Development and produce a video. His affection to me , I could realize from a latest incident which I gathered from two of my student Sushmita and Anup. They were planning to bring out a publication on Collaboration on International Librarianship as a felicitation volume to honor me. It seems that when they approached Professor Neelameghan, he not only agreed but also intimated them that he would contribute another paper and suggested the names of few other experts to approach. He also proposed that he would write some sort of remembrance about my association with him. I am happy that the book has been brought out by IGI Global (USA) during the life time of Professor and he could see it. I was overwhelmed when I listened the story after the publication of the book. I have lost a real well wisher and affectionate personality who helped me always whenever I needed his assistance. His loss can not be replenished, I offer my heartfelt condolence with tears. Prof S.B.Ghosh Ex Scientist INSDOC and Ex Professor IGNOU On Tue, Jul 29, 2014 at 8:01 AM, jharavu <jharavu@gmail.com> wrote:

It is deeply saddening to learn that dear Prof. Neelameghan has passed away. He was truly a scholar, teacher, mentor and friend to me. I had the special privilege to be with him when he started the UNESCO course on Information Management in the Phillipines and later a similar course in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In Ethiopia we were together in the troubled times of that country in 1990 when the dictator Mengistu was overthrown. He was staying in the heart of Addis Ababa which was under attack. I persuaded him to come and stay with me in my quarters which was away from the heart of the city. I can never forget his humility, scholarship and his insights. The library profession has lost a gem from its midst.

I join the community in conveying my sincerest condolences to his family.

Haravu

On Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 12:35 AM, Francis Jayakanth <fjayakanth@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I was given to understand just a while ago from a very reliable source that Prof. A. Neelameghan, an internationally acclaimed scholar in Library and Information Science and former Professor and Head, DRTC, Bangalore, has passed away. Details are awaited.

My heartfelt condolences on the loss of a doyen in the field of LIS.

Francis Jayakanth IIMB, Bannerghatta Roa, Bg - 76

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