Sh Pardeep Rattan:The Optimistic Librarian

Interviewer: Dr Preeti Sharda

Sh Pardeep Rattan works as a college librarian since 1993 and is stationed at Govt. College, Phase VI, SAS Nagar- Mohali, Punjab. He is a man with a golden heart. Whenever I meet him he has a broad and beautiful smile on his face. He is always positive in his thoughts and actions. He takes life as it comes. In his own words “I always try to have a sanguine face towards events of life”. A great friend, a colleague and a superb mentor for his student and co-workers. He works very hard for the profession and also at his workplace but in a very silent mode. His presence makes others feel comfortable and have a feeling of togetherness. In his present workplace, he is recognized as the most accessible and dependable person of the college. He is very much connected to his roots, and he is a down-to-earth person.

A librarian by chances has also done an MA in Geography.  He completed his MLIS degree in which he stood second in the merit of Panjab University, Chandigarh. He qualified his UGC-NET for JRF in the first attempt.  He joined his present position in 2010 and has converted a two classrooms library into a beautiful, functional library within two years of his joining enabled with E-resources and Wi-Fi facility. He has also facilitated interlibrary loan with the District Library Mohali and arranges the required documents for faculty and students which are not available in the library on a reciprocal basis. He was kind enough to answer some of my questions about his library career and the skills he uses in his current role.

Interview

Dr Preeti Sharda: Please tell us a little about your background?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: Hmm…I am born and brought up in a very modest and self-made family, modest in the sense when there are self-centeredness and materialism all around.  Many in our relatives still look towards my family for support and my family always try to provide moral support and compensate in kind as asked. Many times my father had to go to our ancestral village Jindalpur from his office at Punjab Civil Secretariat after attending evening classes at Evening College, PU for family obligations. Originally, I belong to Tehsil Nabha, District Patiala in Punjab but since my birth, I am fortunate to stay with my parents at Chandigarh. My parents prepared me to stare into the challenges and hardships of life as they would confront us during the journey in different tones and tenor. My family is still connected to roots at village Jindalpur. I always try to have a sanguine face towards events of life. I completed my education from Panjab University, Chandigarh where I did my Masters in Geography and Library Science. My professional journey as librarian started in 1992 from Regional Engineering College, Jalandhar now upgraded to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology. I also worked with CRRID in National Family Health Survey for the state of Himachal Pradesh in 1992.   

                       

Dr Preeti Sharda: Please elaborate on the story of "7 FRUITS".

Sh Pardeep Rattan: Ha..ha..ha. Let me first congratulate you for the research that you have done in uncovering some stories that are really close to my heart and not many in my inner circle know about these. The story of “7 Fruits” is a story of seven friends (nicknamed Shah Ji, Fauji, Dhakel, Pinta, Tull, Kambal Singh, and Broiler), who got connected at the Department of Geography, Panjab University, Chandigarh. All from different family backgrounds, regions, and cultures but what was common among them was the spirit of togetherness, truthfulness and helping nature even costing their own interests sometimes. As one seeks rewards, appreciation or fruit of hard work these 7 friends were called 7 FRUITS because of their selfless service to all in the department. They could be found in any corner of University at different times full of life and joy- be at the Student center, Chunni Lal’s canteen at Physics Deptt., Law Ground, Boys’ and Girls’ hostels and of course University market in the evening (like that plum-like fruit trees that are lined up all along the University roads). The name of this the group was given by our classmates. 7 fruits are still together like chips of the same block. Our juniors at the department in the farewell function added another angle to this group by renaming it–“7 fruits and 15 flowers” (15 girls who always felt like a family with us whenever we were out for a picnic or study tour). And the fact is fruits add glow, energy, vigor and quality life years to one’s life.

Dr Preeti Sharda: You completed B.A. with Honours in Geography scoring 61% marks and M.A. in Geography with 60% marks. When didn’t you thought to pursue a career in geography only? What was your first awareness of the role of a librarian? How did you choose to pursue it as a career?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: Very aptly asked- what made me a librarian? Frankly, it is by accident and not by the first choice. During Masters in Geography, I qualified SSB at Clement Town, Dehradun for entry into Indian Air Force as Pilot Officer, but I could not make it to a final All India merit list. After my MA in Geography, I got the admission in the School of Planning at GNDU Amritsar but because of political turmoil in Punjab at that time, I could not submit my fee. I came back to Panjab University Chandigarh and got the admission in the Department of Library Science with a view to avail library facilities for preparing some bigger competitive exam. But the timetable, the atmosphere of the department, my performance and above all urge to get into a job as early as possible forced me to complete my MLIS degree in which I stood second in order of University merit. While in the 2nd semester of MLIS I qualified UGC-NET for JRF and after completion of the degree, I immediately got a job at REC Jalandhar.

Dr Preeti Sharda: You are working as the Librarian at Govt. College, Mohali since 2010. What major changes you have brought after you joined this college? Please provide a piece of brief information about your previous work experiences.

Sh Pardeep Rattan: I entered in a Government job in 1998 at Government College, Rupnagar (Ropar) Punjab. In 2010 I joined Govt. College, SAS Nagar (Mohali). I could convert two classrooms (where a library was dumped) into a basic functional library after two years of my joining at the college with the support of the then Principal, college council and library lovers. Then I created a little space for readers where the library is running its activities. I am serving an institution where 80% input is of rural students. I introduced the college library to them, made it functional, provided E-resources links of NMEICT on the college website, made the provision of Wi-Fi and as per Punjab Govt. Instructions the library automation is underway with the software ‘E Granthalaya’. Before joining Government sector I had worked at REC Jalandhar and Doaba College Jalandhar. 

Dr Preeti Sharda: You are famous for your dedication, friendliness and positive attitude in your college. What are the unique ways you build relationships and connect with staff and students?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: You are never complete if you are not networked- electronically, socially and morally. In a well-knit institutional society, you are always working in tandem with the institutional goals and achieve those goals through teamwork. I think If you can be a leader, fine enough and if not be a follower. Go back to your memory lane and identify the problems that you faced as a student. The problems of today and yesteryears are more or less similar. So when you play the role of a torchbearer, listen patiently to the grievances of students you cannot escape the radar of a cognitive sense of students. You are judged & looked at from a different angle and you are automatically connected to the cause of students and these are the students only which are the greatest asset of an institution. Besides this genuine participation and advice when asked, in different student welfare, staff, and institutional committees also added to an ability of good conduct with my institution.

Dr Preeti Sharda: We are all learning. No one gets it right every time. A more compassionate attitude toward ourselves only helps us to stay in the game. The dynamic process of life—trying, succeeding, failing, and trying again—is the only way to develop lasting confidence in ourselves. Please share stories of your success, failures, and challenges you faced in your life.

Sh Pardeep Rattan: I feel, as a librarian to create your own respectable space is the greatest challenge any librarian faces. It is beyond doubts that learning is a continuous process but learning comes only when we are consistent in our approach towards an issue. I joined Prep Medical in 1983 but fortunately failed in the final exams. Thinking that I was not meant for science stream I switched to Arts and never looked back what happened and why? Throughout I got the first division, stood second in MLIS in University, qualified UGC-NET in the 2nd semester of MLIS and joined a job. My point to sharing all this is that we should not get dishearten every time we do not get the desired results. We must try Plan 'B' to 'Z' if plan 'A' fails at any stage of life. Water is precious for life but even stagnant water stinks after some time. Life teaches us continuity and we should always be ready to move on.

Dr Preeti Sharda: If someone asks you, who is Pardeep Rattan. How will you describe yourself? What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? Please introduce your funny side also.

Sh Pradeep Rattan: It is a difficult question to answer. The circumstances, your reactions to them, your balance of life and your friends may define you the best. Since you have asked ‘who is Pardeep Rattan’, I would say he is simple, accessible and a friend.

Dr Preeti Sharda: If you could go back in time and do part of your career or education over again, is there something you would have changed? A class you would have taken? A missed opportunity?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: I believe the opportunity you are looking for only knocks once at the door but it seems also true that one must take a certain count over an uncertain opportunity. Although I am satisfied with the extent with my present role internally, I feel I could have been a teacher who would be remembered for generations.

Dr Preeti Sharda: What “keeps you busy” these days in the field? What projects are you working on? What do you like best about your work as a library professional?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: If you are able to grow professionally that is a sort of compensation or satisfaction for anyone. Librarianship these days has a vast canvas, and it is very difficult to paint in the colors of everybody’s liking. The customer is the king and you cannot bargain with a king. Libraries are always incomplete in collection and services. As a library professional, I like to strengthen the libraries at the grassroots levels (schools) in terms of inculcating reading habits among readers because if library foundation is strong only when the purpose of establishing libraries is justified. I am also associated with the Regional Institute of Education, Ajmer, and MAGSIPA, Punjab for training the school librarians. I am a member of the organizing committee of ICDT 2019 to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law. To update myself on the professional front, I try to take part, present and publish my research work related to the field of library science.

Dr Preeti Sharda: You once said "Librarians have to take care of books. It is such a sorry state of affairs that libraries in many government colleges of Punjab are being taken care of by peons. The post of a librarian is at par with the college lecturer, but the state government is least bothered about recruiting new staff." (the Tribune, Oct 29, 2013). Do you think situations have changed today?

Sh Pradeep Rattan: As said earlier I joined Government service in 1998 and since then the library system and set up in Govt. colleges and Public libraries in Punjab are not very encouraging. The human resources, infrastructure, and financial needs all need immediate relief for the existence of the libraries.

Dr Preeti Sharda: Being Vice President of the Punjab Librarians' Association what efforts did you put in to improve the condition of professionals in Punjab?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: The association with PCLA- Punjab College Librarians’ Association provided a platform where the professional issues are discussed at a length with an open mind and without any inhibitions. As the ex-General Secretary and the present Vice President, with the collective efforts of all cadres, PCLA is trying to implement the Punjab Library Act. Also, the issues directly related with fellow librarians are taken up with the authorities concerned and are resolved in a given time.

Dr Preeti Sharda: Do you have any tips for other librarians and information managers?

Sh Pardeep Rattan: Respect time. Manage yourself first. Bloom wherever you are planted. Keep updating yourself. Create your own space because of your multitasking capabilities. Thanks.

(Disclaimer: I conducted this interview through email. I am Preeti Sharda working as a Librarian of the Regional Institute of English, Chandigarh. As he said he is really a simple human being, who is easily accessible and a true friend to trust on. I personally feel that people like him can paint the world with beautiful colors. Thank you, sir, for sparing time for the interview).