THE CYCLE

Dr. Mula Ravi Kumar

“Excuse me sir,” I said to the person arranging books in the next rack.

“Yes please,” he responded, “what do you want?”

“Sir, I am a research scholar in this university. There is a problem in this library”

“What it is?”

Sir, the book section is in the second floor and the catalogue is in the ground floor. It is difficult to search a book and go to book section. If catalogues are also shifted to second floor where books are there, it will be convenient” I explained the problem.

“You can search a book in the ground floor while entering the library and come to book section. Why to come to book section and go back to catalogue, and come back again?”

“Actually, sir, while reading a book we come across some other books and they need to be searched in the catalogue only”

“Is this problem so common” “Today, so far, I had to go and come three times or this very purpose. Even if it is not the case with others, it is better to keep books and catalogue side by side. Isn’t it sir?” I completed.

“In the ground floor Junior Librarian is sitting. He attends to this type of problems.

You better go and explain your problem.”

It was an unpleasant surprise for me. For, he asked me so much about my problem; he should have, at least, said’ okay I will convey your problem to the staff concerned’. But after putting so many queries he was simply saying ‘I am not concerned’. Thanks were due to him - at least he told me who is the concerned person. I came to the ground floor and enquired in the issue section where the JL sat. The person in the issue section pointed to a room. After entering that room I found three persons, probably of equal cadre; they were sitting in the chairs of equal measurements and quality. “Junior Librarian jee?” I said non-specifically, while staring at the three, alternatively because I did not know which of them was J.L. One of them said, “Yes I am the JL”

“Namasthe sir,” I greeted him politely. And explained my grievance briefly. He too got all the doubts which I had cleared to the book-section-person. After getting all the clarifications he said “Library is undergoing computerization. Every floor will have a computer from which catalogue and other information can be retrieved.” He said. “Will that facility be available in a week?”

“We will send our proposals by next week. If the file moves at its quickest rate, it may take six months”

“For this period the catalogue boxes can be shifted to avoid inconvenience” “They are heavy wooden boxes; two laborers need to work for two hours to shift them from ground floor to second floor”

“But that is better than troubling library-users for six months.” “Okay, you write your suggestion on a paper, and put it in the complaint-cum suggestion box. The University Librarian will attend to your problem.” He became too impatient to continue anymore.

I took a paper from him, wrote my complaint and walked to the box. That box changed its color due to thick dust. It became a habitat for spiders. The slit for putting my paper was closed by clay-nests built by wasps. I reversed my pen to clear the slit so that I can put my paper in. Suddenly the watchman came to the spot and asked enthusiastically, “What are you doing, sir?” “I want to pass this paper to the University Librarian. The JL told me to put this paper in this box” He laughed once and said, “I joined in this library three years ago. Not even once I found this box touched by anyone, except during the period of white washing of the walls”. “Then, how can I send this paper to the UL? Can I enter his room and hand it over to him?”

“No..., no. In that UL’s office,” he said, pointing his finger at a room “PA to UL I is there. If you give your paper there, it will be passed on to the Big Person”

I entered the office but none was there. When I again told this to the watchman he said that they might have gone to the canteen for tea, and suggested me to wait for ten minutes. I waited for half-an-hour but it seemed they didn’t finish Tea. Even the watchman was not there on the stool near the main gate. So I decided to enter the UL’s chamber. I pushed the spring door and entered. The door closed automatically, not without making screeching noise during opening and closing, indicating the senility of its spring. The Big Person was sitting in his chair, leaning his head backwards. On his table, in front of him, was an opened entertainment magazine. Beside that there were an empty tea cup and half eaten biscuit. I could make all these observations, because his eyes were closed; he must be in deep thoughts. Otherwise he would have opened his eyes for the sound of the door. For a moment I hesitated to draw his attention, and thought of coming out of the room. Again I felt, ‘anyway I put my head in a lion’s mouth. Let me taste his bite’ and called his attention in a submissive tone “Excuse me sir”. At three such calls, each louder than its previous one, he opened his eyes, put a question-mark face. Before he said anything I greeted him, “Namasthe sir, sorry for the disturbance.” “Who are you?” He said in a boss-like tone, adjusting himself in the chair to suit his tone. I briefly explained my problem.

“Did you enter this chamber for this problem? Don’t you know that you should take an appointment from my P A, even to see me? What type of research scholar you are? Don’t do this kind of things again.” He roared with a gradually increasing intensity.

“Nobody is there in your office, sir. I waited for half-an-hour and then only entered in to your room.” I explained.

“No. This is not a room. A chamber. Even if you were to wait for a whole day, you have to. You know, I am head of not only this library. Besides if there are fifteen more libraries of this university, located in many districts of this state. In managing all these I will be busy always. Nowadays university officers are becoming so cheap for you students. You know, when we were students...” He took a pause to breathe. Grasping that chance, I said, “Sorry for my mistake, sir” Lest he’d lecture me all his experiences.

“No. It is not a mistake, a blunder. Go and come through the proper-channel, and take an appointment from my PA to meet me, if necessary.”

‘Quite unnecessary’ I said to myself while coming out of his room, sorry, His Chamber. Personel were entering the office room. I went in and asked, “Are you the P A to UL?”

“Yes myself” the person said. I handed over my paper to him. He read the matter and told me, “For such problems like this, there is a person, Mohan, in the opposite room.”

I came out. I was exhausted and felt like tearing off that paper. At the same time I felt determined to see the end of that matter, and went into that room.

“Mohan jee”

I was shocked to see Mohan who said, “Yes please”. I could not weep; it was an office, and also my age and status didn’t permit me to weep. Instead, I laughed. Even Mr. Mohan could not help himself but burst into laughter.

Because, he was none other than the Junior Librarian, who, an hour back, directed me to the Complaint-cum-suggestion box.

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