Bibliophile

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/world/americas/20burro.html?_r=1

A Lone Reader and teacher sets out every weekend to distribute books to those who cannot afford books of their own or even those who would love to just read and return! And his collection is now 4,800 books strong. These books range from textbooks to novels. The readers range from small school going children to adults. There are those who have even stolen from him but there are whole lot more who have donated books and who have lauded his efforts.

There was once a library service when I was a young child that used to come to our neighbourhood on Wednesdays. The Delhi Public Library- Where did it disappear? I have to wonder... It may not have had the greatest of collections but it was a library anyone could access. And it was exciting just to see the bus roll to a stop next to the post box. The hot Indian summer or the wet Delhi Monsoon, even the cold winters or the autumn resounding with the leaves crackling under our running feet to catch the bus... the bus was always there.

Where did the library go?

Now... fast forward to present... The neighbourhood is no longer the friendly locality where the old grand moms sat outside their doors in the sun and watched little children play 'bat and ball' and kept the ball viciously if it happened to stray anywhere near their hallowed halls! Their hands were always busy- their mouths always yacking... they were never free. Whether it was the sweater they were knitting for a child known to them or for sale, their gossip taps never ran dry. Now, the women are gone, the children were born in the USA, ( their parents having long ago decided that India could not do much for their potential!) and would not be caught in the back alleys of an Indian street playing pitthoo and paalaa. How many of the children today even know of games by these exotic names?

And the books had to be earned. We had to wake up each day DURINg the summer holidays and go for a five km walk with our parents- without dragging our feet... in order to get our reward in the shape of a book. We earned one almost every second day. Our thirst was unquenchable!

Though it is supposed to a special time when the parents read to their children the prized bed time stories- I remember my parents gently starting me off and expecting me to do my own reading. They shared with me their special reading memories and expected me to be able to tell them in no uncertain terms what was it that was holding my attention. This was quite unlike any other parents I have known then or since.

I think.. nay I know, they did a very fine job. If I found myself stumbling, they were always there. They made sure I was provided enough to read on and on... and yet, not quite enough to douse the flames of interest... just holding back to keep me interested.

I have now a library of Fiction, non-fiction and classics, some rare enough to be kept as heirlooms(!) including the original Darwin.

I realised that my love for the printed word was something I had inherited along with another special gift- my love for the language. I felt I would be doing a great disservice not only to my parents but also to my children if I did nothing about this love. So I got my daughter and a few of her friends together and started a reading club. We read stories and we read rebus, we read novels and we read grammar ( yes! we did!!) We had so much fun with words we often lost track of time.

My daughter started enjoying not just collecting books but also reading them. She has built a veritable, enviable library of her own! As has my son who is just five! He is already reading ( or pretending to- which is even more fun).

Gradually these children grew up and grew out of that club... they have mostly, however, carried the love of the books from those humble beginnings. At times we have about ten children joining us on Friday evenings and there are times when we read in a small group of two. It still is fun to read and be read to.

Are there any other clubs like this in Delhi? Can we start a movement? Can we share our books? Can we have readings from our favourite authors or favourite passages?