Ask AI: Women' contribution to Indian libraries

Women have played a major role in the development of Indian libraries. Many female librarians have contributed to the growth of libraries in India. One of the most famous women in Indian library history is Sarada Mukherjee (1904-1999). She was the first woman to become a university librarian in India at the University of Calcutta. She was also the first woman to receive a degree in library science from the University of London. She was instrumental in setting up the Library Association of India and was the first president of the organization. Her contribution was even greater because she held the post during a time when women were not actively encouraged to participate in the public sphere Another major figure in Indian library history is Shanta R. Nisal (1919-2008), the first woman librarian of the National Library, Kolkata. She was also the first woman director of the Indian School Library Association. She was actively involved in the setting up of the Indian Library Association, was a Council Member of the All India Library Conference, and chairperson of the International Relations Committee of the All India Library Conference in 1977. In recent times, there have been several other women librarians who have made significant contributions to the field. Madhabi Chatterjee (1936-2020) was a pioneer in the field of library science. She was a former director of the National Library and was the first woman president of both the Indian Library Association and the All India Library Conference. She is credited with the development of a National Library Network and helped to modernize the library system in India. Sarala Mohan (1931-2017) was the first Indian woman to be appointed as the National Librarian of India. She also held the post of the Director General of the National Library and initiated several programs for the development of library services in India. These are but a few of the prominent women librarians who have made invaluable contributions to Indian libraries. They have played an important role in the modernization of library services and in setting up library organizations in India. Their work has had a profound impact in the development of library science in India.