“There is a floating book fair happening in our harbour. Can I take your son along to show him the ship” asked my neighbour and my parents agreed.I should have been around 10 years old then.That was the first time I am visiting a Harbour and I was very excited to see ships.There was a huge ship that was docked and I was surprised by the size of it. We went inside and there were a lot of books.I do not remember if i bought something, but it was more like a tour of the ship..But after we came out there was a free book that was being distributed. I also happily got one. I was very proud that I got a book from the floating book fair. I did not know what the book was but years later when I found the book in my cupboard, it was a book by a missionary.
I studied in a small Matriculation School in the suburbs of Chennai (then), Prince Madipakkam. This name rings a bell with most people in south Chennai for the various state awards it receives every year. The school has a particular library hour till class V. We used to sit on benches arranged inside the library and the class teacher used to come and give us all one story book to read. And that will be the same set of books every week interchanged amongst our classmates. But after you get into High School the library hour is stopped.‘Gokulam- Children’s magazine’ was one story book I was introduced to during my school days.. I was always fascinated by the column of ‘Pen Pals’ in it. Gradually the magazine also stopped.As I am writing this lot of imageries from my childhood keeps flashing by.
During ‘big leave’ after annual exams, I used to take my cycle and go around in search of libraries. I found a small lending library but I self assumed that it was not affordable. Hence I started going around to ‘Old paper shops’ in my locality in search of books. But only huge college books and tamil cinema magazines were available. In one shop, there was a stack of books that was in elongated shape, called pocket novels. I flipped through the book covers and found one cover illustration interesting and picked it up. But back home as my mom read it, she was in rage and concerned about, the kind of books I have started reading. She immediately tore the book and I was deeply saddened.I clearly did not understand why at that age. Much later I realised it was one of those sensual tamil third page novels.
As I was in higher secondary, there was a shelf with a few books in my uncle’s place. ‘Wings of Fire’ was one of the books that I had dusted from that shelf, just to flip through it and I felt it was too big a book to read. Anyways I took the book along and started reading gradually. That was my first step into the world of books.Days rolled by and I joined an architectural college in Chennai. There used to be a library hour during Design Studio. But mostly we used to sit in designated groups and flip through pictures. At the end of the college library, there was a rack called ‘miscellaneous’.The first book I issued from the library was ‘ Lateral Thinking’ by Edward De Bono. I had issued a few more design related books in the coming months and gradually the library hour stopped and so did the habit of reading.
After college, I started working with Sathya Prakash Varanashi. The office is in the first floor and second floor used to be where ‘library’ is. Sathya used to buy second hand books in ‘Jute sacs’ every month. But you need to have special skills to navigate inside the library. It’s a dark space with all windows shut by books.There used to be no space to even walk around.But many have been immensely benefited from library for the vast collection of books across decades.During lunch hour, Sathya used to tell us stories from different books and he used to surprised, that we have not heard about them.
‘Introduction to Krishnamurthy’ was my first introduction to philosophy, borrowed from Sathya’s library. But contrary to the title, the book is quite a heavy read for beginners. Slowly started skimming through books in the library and the habit of reading slowly ( slowly reading ) picked up. This was also the time I started reading books of spiritual masters. But it did not last for long, as I was not consistent.Amongst the many things that Sathya has inspired in me, the habit of gifting books is a very crucial one for its compounding powers of kindness.
Years rolled by and I was at the final round of interview for Master’s admission in CEPT,Ahmedabad.Gauri Bharath, one amongst the panelist asked ‘So Kaushik, tell me few books of architecture you have read’ .. and I stared blank at her with a smile. And I thought, I will never get through.But fortunate enough I got into CEPT and that is where reading became an essential part of existence. Thanks to the campus,old library, friends , professors and mentors who always motivated me to read good books. ‘Sunday Reading’ with Neelkanth Chaaya taught the value of reading together and sharing.
Soon after post graduation I joined a School of Architecture in Chennai as an assistant professor. It was as if I went back into the library days of my under graduation, with students flipping through picture books in library hours. Few attempts were made to get students to read. But there were a lot of learnings with students trying to understand why they dreaded the very idea of reading. By this time I had also started travelling and trekking, and books were always my companion. I also realised the beautiful connection between learning, travelling and reading.One of the places was Cuckoo Forest School,located at the foothills of Javadhi, Tamilnadu.
Sivaraj,co-founder of Cuckoo movement introduced me to another dimension of books.
One book that had a huge impact on me was ‘Noahkali Yatra’ ( நவகாளியாத்திரை) published by Thannaram, publishing house of Cuckoo. I was talking to Sivaraj anna about the puppy that comes in the book and told him I wish to buy 10 more books, to gift students.He excitedly went inside and handed over a bundle of 50 books saying “ You don’t have to pay,just take these and give it to students. Will give you another bundle next week”.Cuckoo has one of the most vast collection of hand picked, positive books from varied genres.
I often get this question ” How are you like THIS. You are different ?”. Initially I did not understand the question, but later coming to think about it, it is the books that I have read that have moulded and sculpted me.I have immensely benefited in my reading journey, from ‘Gokulam’ to ‘Gandhi’ and I think it is my duty to give back what I have received, for I believe in the magic of books.
‘Dead Poets Society’ ( inspired from movie) is an attempt to provide an encouraging platform for first time readers into the magical world of words. The books are non-political,non-religious, very short reads, in basic english picked exclusively to overcome the fears of those beginning to read. The book would not take more than two hours to read for a slow reader.
Pdf of the book will be shared a day in advance in the link below.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fpvsUkJbvn_oLymYci4b63IjVC3biulR?usp=sharing
We will meet virtually (Zoho) the next day at 6 pm and share our learnings and perspectives. The recording would be available on YouTube for later viewing.The link to the meeting daily will be updated on social media handles
https://www.facebook.com/akarmaafoundation
https://www.instagram.com/akarmaa_/
With the blessings of Krishnammal Jegannathan and all your prayers, we are starting with our first reading on July 20.
The first meeting on Zoho will be on July 21, 6 pm.
A friend once asked me
“ What would be the one thing that you want in your life, before you die”.
I immediately replied
“Stories….Stories of people and stories to share with people”
I felt as though I am back to a beautiful library .
Thank you.
Thank you so much Shanthi. Much Appreciated.