Disclaimer: I have mentioned my experience and feeling about our life related to this experience. I have no motive to denominate systems in India and our habits. Please spare me if you think otherwise at some point while reading so. You can please share your views/feedback at shreepaddeshpande@yahoo.com
Today, it was a really new day for me. Being Monday, a community library was open in my area till 6:30 PM and found it open after I left office at 5:30 PM. I have really never tried to be in a library(apart from college, that too to put impression of sincerarity on lecturers) not because I dont like to be in but, never thought what I would do once I get in? Again, in India, you are supposed to show that you are a good person and will take care of books if you think to be member of the library nearby you. You are asked to fill in a detailed form, your address proof, then address gets verified, then your application will be approved by master librarian and you get a membership card. Again, you can not roam around the library and choose your book, even if some of the libraries have that facility, its with locked cupboards so that you can just read their titles. Otherwise, you are supposed to be wise enough to pre-decide what book you want to read and tell it to librarian at the other side of small window in the library, he/she will look in to inventory and will give it to you as if you are borrowing big loan from him/her. You sign that book's card and agree to return that book before written date on it(Else fines are scheduled for you). In this entire process, I have experienced inconvenience to get right book for me and develop my area of interest about reading.
I recalled, ever the librarian was willing to serve to readers, encourage them about reading, help them to choose good books, NO ! Not sure why but nearly all people in India do their work as duty and not as a job. They rarely exchange greetings, gestures, smiles while interacting with people and give you a rigid experience everytime. Whether its a library, reception in a hospital, school teachers, bus conductors, railway reservation counters, auto/taxi drivers, Poojari in temple, your boss in office, security guards in your building who so ever, do their work as duty. If they start feeling it as their job (the work with internal interest) and greet their service consumer while serving on job, our society will also blossom equally well, I am sure.
Since childhood, we are taught to do things for some or the other benefit to "me" only. You are asked to sing songs (being a kid) by your parents when you are in front any relatives/friends. Not because you like that song, but, you are a demo, how well your parents brought you up compared to other parents. You are asked to score particular percentage in schools not you to gain that much knowledge but to be secure to obtain a position in higher studies and story goes on. In your employment, you are asked to do procedural task so you dont do mistake and remain productive for years so that company will benefit from you and your family, society will check your pockets to count your success in career. Well, there is being written so much about it by reputed writers and brought on screen by artistic film directors yet, I am writing again because we have habit to forget the message from book when we close it and whenwe reach to nearby hotel after a movie. And question remains, when things will change, when we will value our life, when we'll start our community giving back for things we get from it?
But, that day brought me some new experience. The main character of this blog, the Cadishead Library is located at 5 min walk from my home and just between way to office. I felt desire to visit this library some time and it was today. Very first thing I noticed that there were no "great" thoughts written anywhere in it and it was full of light and spacious in size. I felt something odd like facing a mysterious person at the first few feet in library. It was an entrance area, where many magazines, local event information on notice board and most important, there was no board warning "Keep Silence" (If you are from Pune you must have expected it). A stand to keep your luggage, umbrella, jackets etc. Beside it there was a bunch of plants with colorful flowers. I walked in and stared at notice board. It was all talking about, how a few people helped some people in local community for their needs ( Not expecting government to help a needy always), their photographs, comments etc. Some notes were about how people have celebrated events in the area etc. In short, notice board was representing what people are doing there. So, it gave me a nice impression that, people do something though they dont appear on roads much.
Next came the library reception. Two ladies were there, one was giving information to a library borrower some information in soft voice over phone. The other was sorting something down the desk. Both had computers on their desks, it was a open counter and not a window based partition. As I found both busy over reception, I didn't disturbed them to do their work as per standards here. But, the lady on phone somehow informed the other and she got up, smiled at me.
" You okay? I am sorry, didn't noticed you. You need any help?"
" Yes. I want to join library" I responded.
She recognized I am a new person.
"Oh sure! if could please feel this form and sign on it?"
It was expected to me but difference was it had only three fields, My name, date of birth and contact number. Rest was not required because, people here has trust that books will be surely returned back.
I filled up form in 30 secs and signed it. She prepared a library card alike a credit card with magnetic tape, wrote my name in it and handed over to me.
"Welcome, now you can use library. Please tell me if I have made mistake in your name" again with smile.
By being a computer programmer, I followed her and read my name carefully and verified its correct (Validation is crucial part of programmer's life). This was not expected to me. I was not prepared to choose a book, and was expecting only to fill a form today for its membership. But, bringing some borrowed smartness, I started searching for books. Without Google, life is becoming hard man !
I even find it very hard to find right dish to order from menu when I am in every new hotel in India. Same dish, different names(and prices too) in every other hotel. But, well it should be tasty enough on menu card......errred...I forgot it was a library we are talking about.
"May I know what type of books you line?" She came to book rack where I was standing.
Without wasting a moment I said, "ASP.NET 4.0 or WCF"
"I am sorry. What?" She questioned.
I realized myself and said in mind "Boss, its not your office library, come down"
"Ohh...I am sorry. Do you have books for computer science?"
"Yes. I will show you." We came to another rack. "Its here, you okay?"
"Thank you". I.
Damm it !! they were all MS-Office or 'How to use internet' or 'Know you computer' books. Again I realized, this library is not for virtual people like me. It was about gaining knowledge and learning. Not to keep you focused on what your company/society likes you to do. Now, I felt guilty of myself and decided that, I will not read a word about computers and will read about nature. I again started roaming around library. It was so colorful, spacious, ventilated and organized. I went in to another world and looked over few books. An elderly couple was reading and discussing something with a coffee mug in hand, I avoided to go near to them as it may disturb them(People here, respect everyone's privacy).
Coffee was served by librarian to both. An optional(!) payment of 20 Pennies was there, isn't that a rich life experience? A thought came to my mind.
A separate area for kids, disabled people. Even books were available for blind people. Free internet access was also available with headphones and web cameras too. Music/Video DVDs were also there.
It was for everybody, easily available for a cause that since childhood, every person should come in relation with books. Even in time when this(England) country is addicted to internet, they haven't orphaned books. This is an examples being conservative, you don't let good things go floating with time and people of Britain have proven it.
I, many times have heard in India that, books are our best friend and experience is the best guide. We have these fiends there but do we have a system to make us reach to these friends?
Finally I choose a book on "Things to do in England" and came to counter.
"Just one?" She asked with a smile.
"Yes, its enough for me to start" I encountered a mechanical smile back.
"You may please choose more if you yet wish to choose"
"thanks! but, its really right for me"
The book was stamped with a return date, membership card was scanned, again she smiled and said "See you again"
I was walking towards home thinking, "Don't we deserve such a simple life in India?"
When I reached home Shaunak (my son) caught me in door and took me to his some playing toys to play with him and my first non-profit purpose library books is kept aside again. I am waiting to open it...
Shreepad Deshpande
29th April 2013
