During my yearly vacation I never miss to visit the particular book shop in Aziz market. The owner (not to identify I will say only 'the person') remembers me well. Once delivered books before receiving the money. How you do this without knowing me much – this is our culture and part of our history – was the reply over the phone.
Last time(July,09) 'the person' offered me 'doi' in an earthen pot. A gesture I could not refuse though I restrict myself on dairy intake and specially this kind of sweet yogurt from road side shop. However, while I sift through the books to choose from we often talk, new local books, new writings etc. Left leaning 'the person' describes the situation or issues befitting 'the person's political belief.
It was lamented that 'it may not be long before I close my shop' pointing at the other shops that started selling T-shirts. We all know that book reading is not a profession unless one turns to 70 and read those nostalgic literature for his/her grand children. To become a professional one needs to read a limited numbers and within the periphery of the subject , in our unis that is also not very demanding. This is one aspect, the other is we do not get good books of our own. The quasi political rhetoric and fictions that is far removed from reality and do not attract many. In the name of our culture and history those dubious writers try to energise with big fun towards their own standard.
I met retired secretaries, political activists in the shop where mostly Indian books are found on every subjects including cookery and jokes. Those who like Bengali recipes from India I only pitty them – shukto or alur dam can not be a favourite to Bangladeshis.
They will talk about the book shops in Kolkata's street, the writers over there and recent happenings in their theatres and so on.
Once I was querying to a secretary ' how do you spend your time as a retired person'. He showed me a journal that he publishes, taken as past time. Which, to my understanding like our garments industry, has very less to do with knowledge addition (garments still add around 30%).
I was looking for children's book (that can help build their literature) I was given many books all written and published in Kolkata. I was saddened that 'no good books' for our small kids written by our own people. While I was repeating my words of frustration 'the person' requested me to visit another shop and asked the young man working in the shop to escort me. There, I found series of books on science, biography, rhymes, story and so on and like a small kid I was overwhelmed to see them all together. I was offered yet a good discount, even called a taxi for me.
Happy and satisfied me left for the taxi and did pass 'the person' to say good bye till next year and when I mentioned that there were plenty of books', 'thanks for referring me there' – 'we do not keep those books' was the reply.
Why they do not keep 'those books', these are children books and has no politics.
Surprisingly I found Noam Chamsky in Bangla, a good discounts and above all friendly behavior would always attract me 'the person' but the shop keeper's philosophy and collection of books will never amuse me. Moheshweta Devi is one of my favourite and purchased one book. Arundhati Roy is also missing – is it because she is critical of Indian Governments and contemporary politics of India? May be. But I bought few from a handless vendor at Bijoy shorony signal post.
Post liberation culture has created many in our society who loves and attach themselves with India with big pride often not knowing why they are so obsessed with the name.
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