REVIEW

Indian Library Chronology. 2nd ed. Comp. by P.S.G. Kumar. New Delhi: Allied Publishers, 2000. 1378 pp. Rs1800 hard ISBN 8177640100

Dr P.S.G. Kumar is a prolific writer and a devoted professional in the mould of Ranganathan. Any book from him is a solid contribution to the profession, but the book under review is a monumental chronology of Indian library history. The first edition (published in 1977) enlisted 4600 events from 3000 BC to 1975 AD on the wide areas of education, information and communication. The present edition brings it up-to-date to 1998, the year marking India�s 50 years of independence. Part 1 covers 3000 BC to 1947 (pp 1-148); Part 2, 1948 to 1998 (pp 149-1218); Part 3 is the index (pp. 1221-1378).

This new edition includes about 9000 events over to the last 5000 years. Events covered may not narrowly belong to libraries but broadly to the recording and communication of knowledge in general, including writings, scripts, edicts. Clearly the emphasis is on the last 50 years which covers about 80 per cent of the total. The chronology provides information on new libraries, library schools, personnel, their achievements, promotion, awards, obituaries, seminars, meetings, library associations, their elections and office bearers. The entries are skilfully annotated, with annotations varying from two/three lines to many pages depending upon the subject. Each entry starts with a feature heading. Within a year each entry is given a serial number arranged under broader headings: General [Library events], Government bodies and Functions, Libraries, Library science, Library education, Associations, Personalia, Publications [only books] and Miscellaneous events. In a bid to be exhaustive and thorough Kumar includes some events that have had no impact on subsequent developments, and these could well have been omitted. Also, some events do not receive treatment proportional to their influence - the 49th FID Conference (1998) is covered in two small paragraphs, while the 1998 IFLA Conference is treated in six pages.

These comments aside, this is a treasure trove of information, an indispensable tool for future library historians of India, but its use goes much beyond the purpose of historians. It is a bibliographic guide to Indian library science books. Even casual consultation brings to notice many interesting events and personalities that will stimulate professional librarians to delve further into their heritage. Above all this could be a starting point for any library science researcher interested in events and personalities in India. For this purpose the comprehensive index can be useful; this is an index both of names and subjects, with 25,000 entries which refer to the year and serial number within the year.

With this work Kumar has placed all historians and researchers of Indian library science in his debt.

M.P. Satija
Guru Nanek Dev University

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