The Library

The library. The great Trichur Town Hall. Smell of books, endless number of them. Sign boards and flex boards of various programmes around. The great people reading books and newspapers. Altogether a reading atmosphere.

Reaching upto Trichur because of the Library, Ittikuru thought, and not going to the nearby Ollur. Ollur was Ittykuru's house. That house does not belong to Ittikkuru. It belonged to his father who is no more. Then it seemed to be home for a while when mother was alive. Her health slowly deteriorated and ultimately she was bed-ridden with side paralysis and then came the innevitable departure for her heavenly abode. She went smiling and peacefully. But those around her, including Ittikkuru felt the loss. She was a gentle soul always asking about the welfare of Ittykkuru and asking for nothing.

Mothers are like that. They never make any demands. From the very beginning they give. They start with their body and soul. Then anything coming to them are shared with their children. Ittikkuru felt like sobbing. But no, nobody cries out openly these days. That was all in the olden days. Now people are ashamed of every thing.

Ittykkuru came to the present when the Librarian smiled at him and said “Oh..you there..!” The Librarian is always like that. He worked for a small allowance, but for the love of books and the reading public. He always encouraged people to read. He never considered about himself. The books smelled of old paper. Many of them required re-binding and re-covering. But the books were lively from their titles and subjects. Ittikkuru felt happy among the books. Many people in this country do not get to read books. Many getting the chance also do not read. Now it has become more difficult with the onslaught of the TV, Cell phone and Mobile phones. A great number of other playing objects. Future generation has to take care of this. Ittikkuru's generation has already passed that period.

He excused himself from the Librarian to move forward to the racks to meet his favourite and and new authors. OV Vijayan, Madhavikutty, PK Narayana Pillai, Dr. Kunjabdullah, Vaikom Mohmmed Basheer et al were there.  Great writers who felt the pulse of the masses or their contemporary souls.  Many new authors mingled with the old time great names.  The people frequenting the library was few compared to the population and literacy of the place.  The Library culture is slow to get into a people who had been seen too few opportunities to learn at a not so recent past. 

The old system of the place was farming and life was generally feudalistic.  It was the nuns of the convents and the fathers in the churches who made an awakening in the masses inducing them to learn and acquire knowledge and to free themselves from the bondage of ignorance!  They did a marvellous and selfless work to see those who reached them opening up to knowledge and freedom and doing good to those around and becoming a blessing to all around!

Those were the old times.  Education was not seen as a business in those days. Education in smaller classes were free.  But to send their children to school, in a farming and bullock cart period, parents found it difficult.  Without fan fare and inaugurations, the schools gave midday meal to children which held a number of children to their classes.  Even then, some of them fell off, due to calamities in their houses.  Ittikkuru remembered his friend Chandran whose father died when he was in class IV.  Chandran was a studious and pious boy but after the funeral of his father, who used to drive a bullock cart, never returned to school.  Ittikkuru's enquiries with friends brought the reply "Oh, he has taken up his father's work!"

 

Ittikkuru was nine years at that time, studying in Class IV along with Chandran who was of same age.  After a few days one day Ittikkuru heard the shouts of his friend Chandran "Voowh vaah...idede kaale.."  Ittikkuru was coming from the market and on turning his eyes in the direction of the sound from his right, he found his dear friend, on top of the driver seat of his father's bullock cart with the drivers stick in one hand and the two controlling ropes of the two bullocks in his right hand!  The bullocks were coming close to Ittikkuru and he was skillfully controlling them with his 'voh....vahs' which he did with great skill. That was the end of his school education and reading. Now studies will be to his next generation!

When in the library Ittikkuru always had the problem of choices.  There are too many great books, but one can only borrow two books at a time.  This is again a hindrance.  Once the books are taken and if they have to be returned Ittikkuru has to spend half the day to travel and get it done.  He never minded it in his thirst to read his great masterly authors!