Dr. S.F. Pujar in My View

I have known Dr. S.F. Pujar for a year and a half. Majestic in personality, composed in thoughts and combination of both literary and social endeavours is a rich source of knowledge to the students. He is a person of simple living and noble thinking.
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Once I was invited to the Department of Social Work for inaugural function of social work association where I listened to his speech for the first time. Further all the senior students who were well aware of Dr. Pujar's multifaceted personality, pleaded him to sing a song. He obliged and sang, "Giri Giri Gindi Ibatti Undi" I was delighted and thrilled about a person above seventy years keeps such a great grip and enthusiasm. It cautioned me of my future life and I addressed myself, "if you live above seventy live like Dr. Pujar and build a robust health and happy life. 

All these days I had many formal and informal meetings with Dr. Pujar and the respect I get from him is enormous. It might also be the collective opinion of P.G. Centre, Haveri. He becomes a child among children, scholarly man among the learned, guide and philosopher to the students and walks with the small without any inhibitions which reminds of Rabindranath Tagore's statement, "The great walks with the small without fear. It is the middling who keeps aloof from team". Many a time I feel jealous about Dr. Pujar's Mammoth physique which I miserably lack myself.

I have heard from Dr. Pujar's faculty members of department of social work that he is the premier and inspiring source for all. He is an able leader and bold interpreter of human errors. In fact, I have been corrected by him sometimes. He takes everything sportively; eating, teaching, working or travelling. In his prolonged career he has successfully organized social work camps, workshops, orientation programmes, cultural programmes and department functions. He also participated in World Humours conference, National Seminars, etc., with excellent presentations and performances. He won a National award and several prizes for his works (writings).

I was wonder struck when I heard that Dr. Pujar has done his Ph.D without a guide, probably the first person to do so, in the state. Of course, a guide himself doesn't need another guide. He completed his thesis successfully on 'Problems and prospects of social work in Kannada Folk Songs'. The same has been published with the financial assistance of UNESCO federation, Japan. Hats off to the guiding star to millions of aspirants.

I attended one of the special programmes organized to felicitate Dr.S.F. Pujar for his achievements in various fields, as confluences of realm of letters, music and society. A felicitation volume, "Sahitya Samaj Sangama" was released during the occasion. I found thereby that there is a big number of followers, and well wishers from all walk of life. The book is about Dr. Pujar's journey through the head and heart of his followers, disciples, friends, well wishers, critics, etc.,

I wish to conclude my opinion about Dr. Pujar that these words are not enough to scribble about a great man. In my view he is 75 plus icon with the innocence of the child. Let his knowledge and experience mould the minds of millions in order to bring peace and prosperity to society and the world he lives in.
 
Dr.L.S. Patil
Teaching Assistant, Dept. of English, Post Graduate Centre, Karnatak University, Haveri.
 
Opinions of Experts
Mr. SJ. Pujar has versatile talents. He is prolific writer in Kannada and has many publications to his credit.
-Dr.T.K. Nair
Madras 20-4-1981
 
He (Dr.SJ. Pujar) speaks well, writes well, sings & acts well, builds rapport well, the qualities one would envy and would strangly desire to possess.
-Dr.H.M. Marulasiddaiah
Bangalore
 
I have learnt that Dr.SJ. Pujar has been awarede Ph.D recently. Dr. Pujar has really contributed to social work teaching by selecting a topic which is novel and related to indigenous teaching material for which there is a cry. And he is the person who received Mahatma Gandhi Award for his play which is an innovation in the field of social work.
-Dr.K. V. Ramana
 
.... It has been a pleasure to review this work. It certainly added to my knowledge of India and suggested methods of using folk materials in a more creative way. (About Dr. Puiar's thesis).
-Margaret M. Campbell
Dean, School of Social Work, Talave University, New Orleave, Jouisiana, USA
 
The candidate has chosen an unusual and challenging topic- perhaps unique in the academic field of social work in India. His task was made more difficult because of necessity of translating into English the selected Kannada Folk Songs and by his decision to undertake the study without guidance. His deep interest in folk songs and intimate knowledge of the field of folk songs along with scholarship in that area is unique evident.
-Shankar Pathak
 
Prof. SJ. Pujar: A rare combination of professional social work and Folk songs. Social Work where folklore is more functional research tradition is not very strong. Prof.SJ. Pujar may be singled out as a scholar with deep interests in both social work and folklore. This, perhaps is, due to the fact that Prof. Pujar writes poetry. For a professional social worker, writing poetry is indeed unique. Literature it may be seen, gives an added strength to a professional social worker who works amongst the common man.

I remember vividly that the Bangkok office of International Social Work to Strengthen Professionalism in Social Work Practice in South East Asian Countries also recognized that Folk Songs, etc,. Are the strong vehicles of social work in traditional societies. Indian Society is, by and large, traditional. Hence, folklore has a place here. In social work practice too, especially in Cultural Group Work and Rural Community Organization, folklore assumes an important position. Prof. Pujar is thus gifted with the art of folk songs and knack for community organization.
-Dr. Rajeswar Prasad
Former Director, Institute of Social Sciences, Agra u.p
 
.... It is from him,for S.F. Pujar) primarily I learnt not only naunces but also a deep appreciation of the varied folk art forms of Karnataka, especially North Karnataka. This enabled me later on to take up a challenging project under the aegis of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) Dharwad of reaching out to people even in the remotest operational areas through folk art forms to create awareness regarding many social problems and challenges.

Throughout the execution of the project (in stages) Dr. Pujar has been a tower of strength; giving his time and expertise unstintingly. We were be holder to him as his area of specialized study in social work and erudition in the field of folklore and folk art forms have made his contribution very valuable to be cherished forever.

Dr. Pujar who was with us throughout was a perennial source of inspirations, He not only helped us with the lyrics but could also set them to tune.

105 lavani adas and geets (collected from experts, poets, professionals) were ready for scrutiny and after final editing ,the book titled, Janapada Hadugalu' with 75 songs was printed. We in the FPAI drew and availed ourselves of the help generously given by Dr. Pujar who assisted us in the tuning, rhythm, rendering and even the style of rendering.
-Prof. Usha Murthy
 Principal (Rtd), Vice President, FPAI Branch, Dharwad
 
In fact, one of the more recent methodological revolutions in social studies has been the going back to literacy works, especially fiction, to enrich our understanding of social reality. From this perspective Or S.F. Pujar's attempt to penetrate to social reality through folk poetry is the most welcome move. In some ways literature can capture the naunces of social life better than scientific methodology. While social sciences may give us abstract and schematic knowledge of social life literature can support it by more concrete and vivid pictures of social life as lived in reality.

The kind of insights that folk can yield into our social life can never be provided by the objective and so called scientific study of our society. Hence from this perspective also, Dr. Pujar must be regarded as a pioneer.
-Dr K. Ragavendra Rao
A Scholar in social sciences and former chairman of political science in Mangalore University, Mangalore.

Social Work Foot Prints (Samaja Karyada Hejjegalu) is a bi-lingual (English - Kannada) social work journal of high standard and wide circulation. It is the professional imprint of the Nirathanka. M.H.Ramesha founded Social Work Foot Prints in 2010 under the auspices of Niratanka.

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A large majority of Indian folklore scholars happen to be linguistic fundamentalists, who do not feel the necessity of learning or knowing another language of India. Hence their critical studies of their own regional folklore imprisoned in their languages.

Dr. Shekar Pujar has done this wonderful job and liberated the Kannada folk poetry (songs in this case) from non responsive local orbit to highly sensitive and responsive international world. Bilingually qualified Dr. Pujar has obviously, dispensed with valuable services of a translator.
Dr. Pujar not only selects the relevant Kannada folk songs, but also translates them into English and highlights their socio-psychological significance with abundant documentation and global range of references.

Dr. Shekar Pujar has to be congratulated whole heartedly for his inter-disciplinary academic adventure, in his extraordinary zeal and educational concern. Kudos to him!
-Prof. Basavaraj Naikar 
Prof. Emeritus in English Karnatak University, Dharwad
 
Dr SF Pujar has been a nrntessnr with a difference. His commitment to social work has been missionary and not merely professionaL .. (He has) an ability to communicate the most serious message with wit and humour.

What is commendable about Dr. Pujar's peoms and playlet is that he does not merely bemoan the rural people's backwardness or irrational beliefs, but offers as a genuine social worker, remedies that are not only simple but practical. Some of them could be an eye opener to even the so called social reformers and political bigwigs (that is, if they have eyes that could open)
-Dr C. V. Venugopal 
Prof & Chairman, (Rtd) Karnatak University, Dharwad
 
Professor S.F. Pujar- A Creative writer, teacher and fighter.

Prof. Pujar never took note of animosity and boldly sailed through all odds.

Prof. Pujar is also a good administrator. He served as the head of the department in the Karnatak University for few years. After his retirement he was invited by chairman of National Institute of Social Work and Social Sciences of Bhubaneswar to be the Director. Prof. Pujar was able to straighten the things at NIISWASS and help the students and the management of the Institute.
-Dr B.R, Patil
Former Professor Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
 
In the book "Social Work in Kannada Folk Song" has analyzed in dept-folk songs as an effective means of communication. The author (Or S.F. Pujar) has also ren- dered English translation to these Kannada folk songs for the benefit of English readers.

These songs touch mind (Emotions and Thinking) which signals heart beats (Feeling and sensitivity) and combination of both make men or women to put these into action or practice.
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The author deserves appreciation for breaking a new path .
-Dr K.D. Gangrade 
Prof of Social Work (Rtd), Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, Delhi University, Delhi