Learning from (being amidst) books

 

Book fairs and book stores as learning spaces

Nimesh Ved and Anshumalika Rai

Published at Deccan Herald.

Thanks to the team there, to the book store teams that allowed us to put in time with books and to friends who accompanied us to the book fairs.

Trips to book-stores and book-fairs during recent times have had us wonder why these are not looked at as learning spaces. Not as much as they warrant for sure. We have come across children and teachers at book-fairs but these appear more of exceptions given our numbers and the immense potential these spaces harbour.

But first, what we do at these spaces.

Let us begin with the book-fairs. The sheer numbers of books we see at the annual book-fair at Dilli we have not come across elsewhere. Images of people squatting on the floor, chatting excitedly about books and carrying bags full of books have stayed with us since.

The smaller book-fairs, like those at the university campuses in Banaras, were different. Here we noticed people visit like we would visit our friends - with eagerness in eyes and time on hand.

The book-stores have been fun too. A large book-store at Allahabad, in particular, has overwhelmed us with the range of books it houses. And, the people here are familiar with these books like with the back of their hands. Together, they have helped bring down our ignorance levels on Hindi literature.

Another book-store, this in Banaras and smaller, we have visited few times and more. Here conversations and books flow smoothly into one another. We realised how even a small physical space can create a community around books and the difference a book loving person can bring to these spaces.

And now, to why these are learning spaces.

Well, if they have opened up our minds and hearts, then, for those younger they can work wonders.

Book-stores and book-fairs allow us to touch, smell and feel books. Some people find the smell of books sensuous, some enjoy the covers while some just savour the feel of being amidst books. To quote Neil Gaimon, A book is a dream that you hold in your hands. We can read a few pages and then have the option to just leave the book. This, even for those books we are either not keen to purchase in the first place or those we may not be able to afford financially.

These spaces make us aware to books and authors other than ones we are familiar with. New authors and books can open up fresh windows to the world. Worlds we may not be aware to the existence of. To quote Jamila Rizwi - A trip to the bookshop is the ultimate exercise in empathy. Within it you will find endless opportunities to see and understand the world from someone else’s point of view. They open up avenues for us to delve deeper into our areas of interest and also possibly tinkle our hearts and heads to bring out areas of interests that lie hidden within us.

Book-stores and book-fairs present opportunities to meet like-minded people. Some book-stores also enable us to spend time with books alone – this is a one of its kind treat.

For someone who loves books these spaces provide an assurance. One that says that the world around is fine – an assurance much welcome. They also hold immense potential to convert people - to book lovers. Like with a lot else in life, here too, it may help to not nudge or push but to just enable the person to visit.

Being in a book-store or a book-fair is like being in a garden. One does not necessarily need to take up some action. Just being there helps.