Dr Badan Barman: A Professional with Innovative Vision

Interviewer: Dr. Preeti Sharda

Dr. Badan Barman, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University is rendering his excellent service for the upliftment of the library profession throughout India by his valuable contributions. He is very hardworking and a dedicated professional. He is widely known in India and abroad in the field of Library and Information Science for innovative use of web technologies in the field. 


His popular websites include “LIS Links” (http://www.lislinks.com), “Free Online CBSE UGC NET Guide Book” (http://www.netugc.com), etc. His LIS Links project was included in the 200 Tech Success Stories compiled by the PC Quest magazine, June 2010. The LIS Links project able to receive “Jury Special Mention” award in the category of “Best Usages of ICT in Education and Learning” in the E-North East Award 2011 held at Kohima, Nagaland (India). It also received “Jury Special Mention” award in the category of Advocacy & Empowerment in the North East Social Impact Award 2015 held at NEDFi House, Guwahati, Assam (India) on 28th August 2015.

Dr. Badan Barman is BSc (Botany) from Guwahati College with 15th Position in 2003, MLISc from the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University with 1st position in 2005. He was awarded Ph.D. in Library and Information Science by Gauhati University in the year 2011 for his thesis “Web Resources in Library and Information Science: A Managerial Approach” under the guideship of Professor Narendra Lahkar. He completed one Major Research Project on “Application of Information Communication Technologies in Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University: A Road Ahead” jointly with Dr. Arupjyoti Choudhury and Dr. Ankuran Dutta. He completed two Minor Research Projects entitled “Open Access E-Journal Portal of KKHSOU” and “Old Examination Question Papers of KKHSOU: Making it Accessible to the Learners”. The first edition of his book “Library and Information Science: UGC-NET Guide” was sold out within one year of its release and the “Library and Information Science: UGC-NET Guide”, 2nd Revised and Enlarged Edition (with objective type questions and answers) of the book was sold out within two years’ time from publication. 

He also compiled and self-published “Directory of Library and Information Science Teachers in India” in the year 2016.

He was recently Felicitated for his contributions towards LIS Profession by the Ranganathan Society for Social Welfare and Library Development (RSSWLD) at the Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP) on March 2, 2019.



Interview

1. Dr Preeti Sharda: Tell us a little about yourself. 

Dr. Badan Barman: I am the middle son of Shri Joykanta Barman and Smt Joymati Barman. My father used to be a daily laborer who in the mid-1980s migrated from Nalbari district of Assam to Guwahati, Assam in search for a job. So, I have enrolled in a government-run Lower Primary School in Kachua village of Nalbari District and later on took admission in Class-II in the government-run Krishnanagar L.P. School, Guwahati. After passing from the Krishnanagar L.P. School, I got admitted to a local venture school called Krishnanagar Vidyapeeth. During those days, when there were holidays, even I used to work as a daily laborer to help my father in his attempt to run the family. At that time, my elder brother used to work as a cleaner in a local hotel. Till 1997, no one able to pass the Class X examination from Krishnanagar Vidyapeeth school. So, to motivate the students to pass in the Class X examination, some eminent residents of the Krishnangar area announced cash prize money. I got a 1st class in my Class X examination from that school in 1997 and by this way, I got that cash prize money and with that, I took admission in the B. Borooah College in the Higher Secondary (Science). My job as a daily laborer used to continue in those days. I passed Higher Secondary (Science) in the second division and with my earnings, I took admission in B.Sc. (Botany Major) in Guwahati College. At that time my brother’s mothers-in-law gave me a new bicycle to come and go to the college which used to be almost 6 kilometers away from my residence. After passing B.Sc. with 1st division, I approach Mr. Debendra Nath Bhattacharyya sir, Associate Professor of Guwahati College for mentorship in choosing a better career. My inclination was only to the subject where I can get a job in the future. Mr. Debendra Nath Bhattacharyya sir told me to go for a master degree in Library and Information Science. At that time though I was interested in higher studies, I used to have no money to take admission in the Master degree. However, I have appeared in the written test and viva-voce of the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University and accordingly got selected. Some of our neighbors like Mr. Pramod Kakati, Mr. Satyen Talukdar, Mr. Maheshchandra Mahanta and others draw the attention of the Honourable Education Minister of Assam of that time Mr. Pankaj Bora regarding my incapability to take admission in Master degree programme due to weak financial condition. In a meeting organized by the Krishnanagar Unnayan Samiti, Mr. Pankaj Bora called me to his office at Assam Secretariat and accordingly when I went to his office he handed over to me an envelope that when I opened I found the admission fees for taking admission in the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University and then there were no turning back. Later on, I have enrolled in the Ph.D. programme of the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University under the able-guideship of Professor Narendra Lahkar and during those days I used to get the fellowship from Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi and finally, I got Ph.D. in 2011.

2. Dr. Preeti Sharda: How long have you worked in the LIS Profession and how did you get your start in it?

Dr. Badan Barman: Just after appearing Master degree examination in Library and Information Science in 2005, I started working in different capacities in different institute without taking a major break. Immediately after appearing my Master degree examination in Library and Information Science, Gauhati University, Professor Narendra Lahkar nominated me along with Mr. Nikhil Hazarika to work as Apprenticeship in Library and Information Science at Central Reference Library (CRL), Kolkata. I got my examination result of M.L.I.Sc. examination while working as Apprenticeship at CRL, Kolkata. After returning back, I joined as Research Assistant in the ICSSR sponsored research project “Rural Libraries in North East India: A Machine Readable Database” where Professor Narendra Lahkar was the Project Director. Later on, for a short duration, I worked at Media Trust Assam and then joined as Academic Consultant in Library and Information Science at Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University.

3. Dr. Preeti Sharda: What changes you have brought in the department since your inception?

Dr. Badan Barman: Just after joining the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University with the active support of Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mridul Hazarika sir, then Registrar, Dr. Suresh Kumar Nath sir and Secretary, University Classes, Dr. Hemanta Kr. Nath sir a Transactional SMS Channel of Gauhati University was developed through which all the staff and faculty members of the university start receiving updates related to the university via SMS. Later on, the Gauhati University published my compilation of the Directory of the Teachers and Officers of Gauhati University in printed as well as a digital version where you can find the contact details of the teachers and staff of the University. The contact detail includes the official address and address of residence along with the mobile number and email id. Further, the directory is arranged in such a way so that when needed, people can just make a photocopy of the directory and paste the official address or residential address at the top of a regular letter envelope.

In the department level, besides regular teaching, I think, I have done only one thing and that is managing contact details of the students, alumni, and history of the department and development of its website. At any moment when needed, now we are in a better position and develop a better way to contact anyone.

4. Dr. Preeti Sharda: Pen down some major accomplishments during your stay at the Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University.

Dr. Badan Barman: I joined Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University on 12th June 2008 as Academic Consultant and Librarian i/c on a contractual basis. On 4th April 2013, I have joined as Assistant Librarian in a permanent post in the same institute. During my tenure in different capacities at KKHSOU, the university has seen the following changes-

1. Preparation of the syllabus of Diploma in Library and Information Science Programme.
2. Writing of all the course material for the Diploma in Library and Information Science Programme.
3. Promotion of the Diploma programme by using all personal and professional avenues and in my days it used to have the most successful diploma programme of all other diploma programmes offered by the University, good employability rate and used to have foreign students.
4. The Central Library, KKHSOU becomes the first university in entire North East India which was fully RFID-enabled, automated with SOUL 2.0 software, had an enriched collection with well-furnished furniture and fittings.
5. Launching of the legacy free edition of Google Apps and later on its migration to Google Apps for Education (presently known as GSuite for Education).
6. Connectivity to National Knowledge Network (NKN).
7. Launching of Open Access Journals Search Engine (OAJSE) that still used from many countries of the World.
8. Scanning and hosting of old examination questions papers.
9. Becoming a YouTube Partner.
10. Launching of Transactional SMS Channel of KKHSOU.
11. Launching of KKHSOU Knowledge Hub and KKHSOU Job Portal both of which are presently defunct but during those days it used to have more than 50,000 subscribers and KKHSOU Job Portal even received e-North East Award.
12. Getting ISBN for the publications of the university.

5. Dr Preeti Sharda: Why did you start LIS Links?

Dr. Badan Barman: Professor Nagubandi Laxman Rao of Osmani University has visited the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University as part of an academic assignment in the year 2007. To make him comfortable here in Guwahati, the department has given me the responsibility to look after him. During our informal interaction, he asked me what I wanted to do after my master degree in Library and Information Science. I spontaneously replied to him that I wanted to do the Ph.D. He warned me not to take a topic that does not contribute anything to the subject. So, when I have registered for the Ph.D. programme, I kept the words of Laxman Rao sir in my mind and accordingly select “Web Resources in Library and Information Science: A Managerial Approach” as my topic under Professor Narendra Lahkar. At that time, as part of Ph.D. I have developed a few blog and wiki sites to manage different web resources in Library and Information Science. During that time, Google announced the launching of Google Knol on December 13, 2007, and someone has developed a social networking site for it over the Ning platform. When I noticed the social networking site of Google Knol over Ning, it immediately drew my attention as I wanted to have such a site instead of my six blogs and two wiki sites at that moment and accordingly I have developed a Ning site on 26th of February, 2008 and Google formally launched Google Knol on July 23, 2008 and later on it was shut down on May 1, 2012.

6. Dr Preeti Sharda: What is the current status of LIS Links? 

Dr Badan Barman: As on 25th March 2019, LIS Links has 25,974 members, 9,919 forum posts, 7,151 job posts, 1,284 event posts, 1,508 photos, and other contents. Among all websites LIS Links, Global Alexa rank is 102,032 and in India, it is at 6,987 positions. During the period of Mar 25, 2018-Mar 24, 2019 (1 year) LIS Links receive 38,59,231 Pageviews from 5,51,699 Users in 12,31,359 Sessions. The Pages / Session was 3.13 and the average session duration was 00:16:34. 

7. Dr Preeti Sharda: Impact of LIS Links on Indian Library Sector

Dr Badan Barman: “LIS Links” is considered as a huge success and a pioneering effort in the Library and Information Science field in India.  It brings all Library and Information Science related information into a systematic order for searching and browsing with many provisions of subscriptions that too, without any duplication and irrelevance. It is India’s first and largest social networking and collaborating initiative platform for LIS professionals. It makes the following impact among the professionals-

1. Act as Gateway: “LIS Links” is serving as a gateway or single-point access to the Indian LIS profession for the whole world. All information can be searched and browsed by using its website.
2. Functioning as Online Database of LIS Professionals: The project achieved an online database of 25,975 LIS Professionals (as on 25th March 2019) in India that’s too continuously growing. The members of the database can be searched and browsed using the web interface.
3. Functioning as Communication Medium: The members of the database are able to communicate among themselves by chat, scrap message, Email, discussion forum, groups, blog, event, photo, music, video, etc.
4. Duplication and Irrelevancy are Avoided: “LIS Links” policy is rather quite tight in approving contents over the site. Customarily, it doesn’t approve plagiarized, duplicate and irrelevant contents over the website.
5. Information is Disseminated in a High Speed: The information that goes through moderation is distributed in seconds to the respective subscribers/followers. 
6. Large Number of Subscribers: “LIS Links” gives a mechanism by which the LIS students, research scholar, academicians, and practicing librarians and lastly the people with an interest in LIS can get free Alerting Service / Current Awareness Service (CAS) / Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) services through SMS, Email and RSS in all subfield of LIS.
7. Frequently Updated: The news clipping and other information regularly displayed over the platform are updated daily. The important posts are also shared in Google Plus, Twitter and Facebook.
8. Highly Acclaimed: PC Quest Magazine, June 2009 in its nomination of the LIS Links project to the PC Quest Best IT Implementations of the Year 2009

“Online Portal and Web-Based Solutions” category commented as “this initiative has made this portal one of India’s best in LIS and among a very few in the world” (PC Quest 2009).

Again, in the PC Quest June 2010 issue, LIS Links was included among 200 Tech success stories.

The LIS Links project was also able to receive “Jury Special Mention” award in the category of “Best Usages of ICT in Education and Learning” in the E-North East Award 2011 held at Kohima, Nagaland (India).

It recieved eNorth East Award-2014 on 7 November 2014 confered by North East Development Foundation and Department of ICT, Government of Mizoram.

It also received “Jury Special Mention” award in the category of Advocacy & Empowerment in the North East Social Impact Award 2015 held at NEDFi House, Guwahati, Assam (India) on 28th August 2015.

8. Dr. Preeti Sharda: Today LIS profession is facing so many problems, especially for the people who are working with the private organizations; I would say the cause lies in roots from where the foundation of the profession is made (LIS Schools). There is a huge gap between what LIS students study and what LIS professional actually do. Please comment.

Dr. Badan Barman: Yes, you are right; there is a huge difference between what we taught them and what they supposed to do after their employment. In most of the institutions, there is a huge difference between the syllabus of the programme and its application in real life, in some institution, the difference is less, however, the difference is always there. You can consider it like, if they need in real life is 100%, the institution covers 80% of the content in their syllabus and out of that 80%, they covered, 80% of the syllabus is taught in the class [making it (80/100) * 80=64% of the total need] and again out of that 80%, most of the student only able to cover 80% (making it (64/100) * 80=51.2%]. So, they go to the market with only 51.2% of the knowledge which is needed in their real life.

However, this is not only true for the Library and Information Science subject. Even this is true for other truly professional subjects. That is why there is a need to have the apprenticeship courses just after the Master degree programme in Library and Information Science.

9. Dr. Preeti Sharda: Any concluding remarks.

Dr. Badan Barman: We are living in a world full of distractor and in India, majorities of the population are cricket addiction patients, a major fraction of others are suffering from video gaming disorder, problematic social media use, TV and Web-Series addict and alcohol, and drug addict. To be able to do something, you should be free from those addicts and be self-motivated and determined to achieve your set target. Otherwise, there is every chance that you will be thrown-away from your aim by your surrounding including your virtual and real friend. So, keep motivated, keep reading, and keep working instead of being busy with your smartphone. Otherwise, it’s not going to lead anywhere other than your own end and then don’t blame anyone. Those who are student or research scholar can devote their time for their primary objective i.e. reading. Those who are qualified and unemployed in Library and Information Science instead of being busy with other distractor and looking for people who can employ them can explore the possibilities of using the internet for livelihood generation.

(The interview was conducted by Dr. Preeti Sharda, Librarian of Regional Institute of English, Chandigarh. It was a great honour to take interview of a dedicated and a very hardworking professional like Dr. Badan Barman. Some of the questions are still to be answered but Dr. Barman has promised to complete the interview very soon. Thank you so much, Dr. Barman, for sparing time from your busy schedule).