The third and fourth foreign librarians and tutors of library science who were invited to come to our Department of Library Science at the Univaersity of Tabriz were Mr. P.B.Mangala and Mr. Jalal-al-Din Haidar. Both of them were holding MSLS degrees from American Universities, but the first one was rather more curious and furious among all people from sub-continent who were either teaching or working in our University. I think he was not welcomed by his fellow country- men too who were teaching in the other Departments of the University of Tabriz. He was rather known to be literate with a character of bullyness towards other Indians who were guest lecturers or Professors and tutors in the University. In the articles written by him, in that time, to famous journals of the world, he used to introduce himself as the Professor and the Head of the Department of Library Science of the University of Tabriz which is not true. He was just a guest lecturer of Library Science in this Department and I also helped him much in providing and translating materials for his students and classes. I loved him because he was literate in his field of knowledge. In the beginning I didn't realize that he was writing for the famous foreign journals.
Mr. Jalal-al-Din Haidar who was an Assistant Professor from Karachi University was the last foreign tutor who taught Library Science in our Department. I and Mr. Jalal- al-Din Haidar were room-mates in the Faculty of Education. He was a very humble person and an honest writer, but a high smoker - just contrary to me who was a non-smoker and non- drinker. He was frightened by cats which were affluent in Tabriz . Now, Jalal-al-Din Haider is holding a Doctorate Degree from UK and is a retired Professor in his country. I have not much information about Mr. P.B.Mangala from New Delhi University, and no news from Mr.Philip Rusel Scot who was living in UK up-to 25 years ago.
Having so many guest lecturers from UK, Canada, Pakistan and India in our group made me think twice about our future needs, and after several meetings with the Dean of the Faculty of Education, the Vice-Chancellor and our foreign colleagues, I sent my first reguest to the Faculty and then to the EducastionVice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor and the University Council accepted my proposals and finally in an interview which was held in Vice-Chancellor's Office seven matured men and women with a BA background in English, Geography, History and so on were chosen from 34 candidates. Four out of seven of these literally MSLS students were absorbed by the University of Tabriz, and one of them became the Librarian of the British Council Library in Tabriz. Her name was Miss E'Tezadzadeh. The other 4 who were absorbed by the University of Tabriz were: Mr. Rahim Shahgoli, Mr. Asghar Delbaripour, Mr Asad Simanpour and Mr Hashemi. All of these colleagues, except Mr. Hashemi who died very soon, were the Lecturers of our Department for their whole academic life. They all are now retired and healthy with enough wealth and pension to live happily in Tabriz. |
