Iyyanki Venkata Ramanayya

Shri Iyyanki Venkata Ramanayya (1977) is recognized as the "Architect of Public Library Movement in India". He is the first Indian to be awarded the Kaula Gold Medal. [ [http://kaulaendowment.org/awards.html Kaulaendowment awards medals scholarships ] ]

Early career

Shri Iyyanki entered Public life in the year 1907 at the age of 19 and was instrumental in establishing the First State Library Association in Indian - Andhra Desa Library Association (1914), Bengal Library Association (1925). He was responsible to start Madras Library Association (1928), Punjab Library Association (1929) at state level and All India Public Library Association (1919) at the National Level.

Accomplishments

With unmatched missionary zeal, Shri Iyyanki founded literary journals like Andhra Bharati (1910), the first Telugu illustrated Monthly from Machilipatnam, which catered to many generations keeping them informed of Telugu related information. He also founded the Granthalay Sarvasvamu in Telugu in the year 1915 (the first professional journal on Library Science from Vijayawada), as well as the Indian Library Journal in the year 1924 (the first professional journal on Library Science published in English from Vijayawada) at his own cost and boosted the profession.

Other works

With strenuous efforts and dedication, Shri Iyyanki organized hundreds of meetings and conferences at the National and State Levels. The top national and international figures such as Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, Sir P.C Roy, and Desabandhu Chittaranjan Das were reception committee chairmen or Presidents of different All India Public Library Conferences organized by Shri Iyyanki which took place in different parts of India. He worked as the Secretary of the All India Public Library Association started in 1919. He has been the live-wire of the Public Library Movement in India.

Legacy and awards

The Indian movement to build libraries in several states and in the rural, less accessible areas, have been all due to his great organizing capacity, untiring energy and dedication as a selfless social worker. He was honored with the award of “Granthalaya Pitamaha” by the Maharajah of Baroda. the Government of India honored him with the award of Padmashri in 1972. [Prof Kaula Endowment for Library and Information Science, Silver Jubilee Report (1975-2000)]

References