20090203 - A reflection by Rajashekhar Devarai on Arun Maira's paper "global meltdown"

February 3rd 2009 A reflection of a Librarian on "A matter of trust/Arun Maira.-Times of India – February 2, 2009, page 16(centre page). This educative centre page article by Management consultant Arun is educative and sensitizing. It is specially useful to commoners and non-finance-non economists to grasp a minimum of understanding about concepts like : recession, global meltdown, global slowdown, global meltdown etc. The much valued freedom that the business need, the extent of accountability and responsibility that is required of them towards government and society are well brought out in the paper. A reasonable and significant ethical level of conduct on the part of businessmen; transparency and required flexibility of rules and guidelines on the part of Government and a trust and belief of people towards both Government and Business work towards building sound global economies. As brought very well by Arun business which always wanted less and less interference by government, now wants their unquestioned and unlimited support both in terms of finance and moral backing. It is true, these troubled times need fundamental changes in the ways governments function, in the way businesses function and in the way people empower and trust governments and business. Are we all to move forward towards a disciplined flexibility and a reasonable balancer between freedom and equity. What do we think about this as librarians? Directly or indirectly, to a more or less extent we too are business, a different servicing business. Apart from asking more and more in terms of salaries and perks and of course budgets; we need to learn the economics of financing of the libraries, our duties and accountability towards all stake holders , I mean the institution we serve and the government and people at large. As librarians let us learn more and more lessons of being sensitive, responsible and accountability and lateral thinking, at these troubled and hopeless times. Shall we pledge to be out of the box, shall we restart ourselves to prove our social relevance and indispensability. We have come of age. Let us re-affirm ourselves, and continue our age old affinity with knowledge and its power. Rajashekhar Devarai Librarian lotus5673@yahoo.co.in blog : http://indialibrarian-intl.blogspot.com Librarianship is a noble profession. lotus5673@yahoo.co.in 1816gbgv

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Plug the Security holes - Radha Kumar - Article review by Rajashekhar Devarai

Plug the Security holes/Radha Kumar.- Times of India - Mumbai : December 17, 2008. - Article Review by Rajashekhar Devarai.

Essay by Radha Kumar of Jamilia Milia I slamic university is indeed very timely. We do hear a lot from various quarters on the proposed national Investigating Agency. Every one now is very clear as to the security lapses with regard to Mumbai terror trauma. Radha Kumar has tactfully dealt with issues and topics like that proposed coastal command, Amendments to CISF ACT. He rightly emphasixed on the three areas of reform viz intelligence, gathering and communication, specialist training, and equipment and coordination between the Federal and State ministries, Intelligentiaa and the commoners both are suggesting aloud to look at the US model in this regard. India's concerns issues and problems are not much idfferent than that of US. What I personally feel is that we need not look for US experience as a model. Our so called apex body or agency should get evolved keeping in view our social, cultural, geographical and political climate in mind. Any blind following may land us in new problems and circumstances.'

Mr.Radhakumar rightly proposes for an authority which can, at the least over see the forms that are required in our armed forces, coast guard, police and intelligence agencies as well as in our financial and cellular services. Radha Suggests for an integreated approach. The essay by Radhakumar is indeed educative and informative.

As Librarians and Knowledge professionals do we have any thing to say in this regard. Is it not timely to brain storm on "Emergency Librarianship", "Disaster Information Systems". Shall I take this opportunity to suggest for addressing the issue in our Seminars and Conferences. How about thinking aloud on "National Information System on Emergencies, disasters and Natural calamities". Every time we complain that we dont get the required recognition and status in society. Unless we address the central core survival issues of society, how do we prove our indispensibility? Let us introspect.... do we have such concerns close to our heart? ... If so is it not our duty to respond to such situations in our own way?

RajLibrarian
lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

Reflections on "Say bye to your fears" /Adrian Savage.- Mind over matter : Times of India : June 8, 2008.-

Reflections on "Say bye to your fears" /Adrian Savage.- Mind over matter : Times of India : June 8, 2008.-

Coincidence is really incidental. Realixation of inner truths to me really incidental and unasked for. When we really look at ourselves honestly and unbiased, we are much more than what we arelly are. When we read about people who were different, when we meet people who happen to be achievers.....they all are really unique. They always stand on their own no matter how it costs them. They all resemble to people who have tried untried paths. It is amazing to note that, all unique and daring people were so different from each other ...... but undoubtedly so close to truth.

To quote Adrian, "To stay in your comfort zone because of fears of what may lie outside will condemn you to a life of regret." ....."Nobody is born with an instruction manual for life. Despite all the helpful advice from parents, teachers and elders, each of us must make our own way in the world, doing the best we can and quite often getting things wrong. Missing up a few times is not that big a deal. But if you get scared and try to avoid all mistakes by sticking with just a few tried and true behaviours, you will miss out on most opportunities as well. Lots of people who suffer from boredom at work are doing it to themselves. They are bored and frustrated because that is what their choices have caused them to be. They are stuck in ruts they dug for themselves while trying to avoid making mistakes and taking risks. People who make mistakes never make thny thing else either. "Do something differently and see what happens. Ever the most successful habits eventually lose their usefulness eventually lose their usefulness as events change the world and fresh responses are called for." Be who you are. It is easy to assume that you always have to fit in to get on in the world; that you must confirm to be liked and respected by others or face exclusion. Because most people want to please, they try tryto become what they believe others expect, even if it means forcing themselves to be the kind of person they are not deep down."

To my fellow professionals i.e., Librarians with love :

Dont stay in your comfort zone as a Librarian.

Remove or leave your fears, be it from your boss or library committee or your fellow colleagues or your members/patrons.

Dont live a life of regret.

Be what you are as a Librarian.

Best librarians to a great extent differ from each other.

Go by your inner impulse and inner liking....... it cannot be wrong or in appropriate.

The environment around you is changing fast, your past experience may or may not result in success. Change your attitude, tools and techniques appropriately.

Come out of old habits to find new and creative ideas.

Dear librarian friends, if time tested formulas dont work, do something differently and see what happens.

Friends, indeed I am very much moved by the article/essay written by Adrian Savage. IU thought I must blog my reflections to you. Hope you are sensitised and energiged to be different and unique as you already are!

Best wishes, Be happy, Be smiling....

Rajgbggv1816

July 21, 2008 : 7.24pm