Winner of CILIP’S Anthony Thompson Award 2008
The winner of this year's Award is Raj Kumar Gandharba, recently promoted as Executive Director of the non-government organisation the Jana Utthan Pratishan (JUP) in Nepal. Raj's work includes management of Community Learning Centres with special importance given to the underprivileged Dalit peoples.
The Award was created by Anthony Thompson, first full-time Secretary General of IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) from 1962 - 1979, when on his death he bequeathed money to bring young librarians to the UK to study UK library and information work. Anthony Thompson Award Funds are managed by CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and visits are arranged with assistance from ILIG (International Library & Information Group of CILIP) in the United Kingdom. Raj is the 9th person to receive this Award.
Raj's proposal for this Award outlined the need for education of the Dalits in Nepal to help them advance with other sectors of the community. He said that the Dalits are a particularly vulnerable group subject to discrimination and exclusion.
One of the areas that ILIG Committee was looking at for this year's Award was rural library and information services. They were impressed by the fact that under Raj's leadership a community learning centre has already been established and the Jana Utthan Communicative Network has been formed to run it.
Raj says 'I was born in a typical family of the Gandharba (Gandharbas are the musicians of Nepal) in a remote village of Lamjung District of Nepal. My work now mainly comprises library related activities including editing the journal Dalit Solidarity. I also support my own Gandharba community and as their Chief Advisor give technical help to the Gandharba Cultural Art Organization. Building on the Anthony Thompson Award visit to the UK, I plan to promote and expand on all rural learning centres in Nepal'.
He will take up his Award in the UK from 7-29 June, 2008. Anyone wishing to communicate with him on his work with the Dalits in Nepal can e-mail: raj.gdv@gmail.com or raj_gdv@yahoo.co.in
Press contact:
Kathleen Ladizesky, Treasurer of CILIP’s International Library and Information Group
Tel: 01974 282 411
Email: ladizesky@yahoo.com
Notes for Editors
1. CILIP International Library and Information Group ILIG exists to unite CILIP members both in the UK and abroad who have a strong interest in international work. Its purpose is to foster good international relations within the profession; lessen professional isolation; encourage closer international understanding, and contribute to the development of library and information services overseas. Further information.
2. CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. It forms a community of around 36,000 people engaged in library and information work, of whom around 21,000 are CILIP members and around 15,000 are regular customers of CILIP Enterprises. CILIP members work in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries. For more information about CILIP, please go to www.cilip.org.uk
3. Anthony Thompson Award
Further information .
4. Further details on Raj Kumar Gandharba's career
Raj Kumar Gandharba studied for an M.Ed.at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu. He also holds a B.Ed in English language and an I.Ed. in English language and Mathematics.
After a variety of library related jobs, when he had particular interest in fund raising, organising workshop s and developing strategy to make the library accessible to vulnerable groups, he was appointed Programme Coordinator of Jana Utthan Pratisthan – Nepal, Katmandu. He has worked with a wide range of social organisations such as the World Council of Churches, Actionaid Nepal, World Bank, Lutheran World Federation Radio Programme and others all with the aim of improving the lives of the Dalits.
Raj is also employed as a teacher of English language and literature in Kathmandu Valley College, and has a background of teaching in University and schools in Napal. Furthermore, he is Editor-in-Chief of Dalit Solidarity a quarterly publication for the advancement of the Dalits and other works relating to them..
The Gandharbas, of which Raj is one, are the indigenous musicians of Nepal and Raj has presented several papers at conferences about their music. As an archival aspect of folklore of the region, works about these musicians are of vital importance.
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Updated: 02 September 2008