Television came in only with the Delhi Asiad in 1982. For most of us, the only pastime was books. I was fortunate in that my father had a good collection of books which he insisted should be read. Still in those days, good books were not so easily and cheaply available. So, I spent a lot of time in libraries.
Travelling those days was by bus or train. As I walked to the Praca at Margao, I would out of habit stop at the Zambaulikar Book Stall by the side of State Bank of India. Soon the proprietor, Mangal Zambaulikar and I became good friends. He began to permit me to take home magazines and periodicals which I would read in the night and return the next morning. And it went on for many years. His logic in giving me the facility was “I lose nothing; you gain knowledge”. Now as I look back I realise, he was a real friend.
More recently, I visited the Book Stall only to notice that the quality and quantity of periodicals and magazine displayed was much poorer than earlier and the stall was now full of trinkets not related to books. And Zambaulikar explained it thus “Tumche esle vachpi atam nant. Te dis Desmond (D’Costa), Cleofato (Almeida Coutinho) anik herr vachtale te ghele”. (Readers like you are no more. The days when Desmond, Cleofato and others used to read are gone). He went on to explain that he has to display only that which has a market. There is no more demand for good reading material and therefore he had to diversify.
A few years ago, I attended the book release of Luis Assis Correia at Francisco Luis Gomes Memorial District Library at Navelim. It was my first visit. After the function, as we walked out of the library, Fredrick (Rico) Noronha the proprietor of Goa 1556 and publisher of the book pointed to the library and raised a question. Do you remember? And he looked meaningfully at me. I did not exactly follow what he was saying until he reminded me of the Legislative Assembly proceedings in the year 1993 when the Goa Libraries Act was enacted, and my role in it. I did then recall the episode.
In the course of the debate, the problem arose on how to raise funds for the library movement in Goa. I suggested that a cess of fifty paise per bottle of liquor sold in the State be imposed called the “library cess” which could be utilized to construct and fund libraries. At this time, late Shashikala Kakodkar stood up, objected and questioned the logic of those who waste their lives on drink contributing to libraries. My response was, simply, since those who drink cause damage to themselves and to society they may as well contribute, positively in some other aspect. The House accepted my suggestion.
Over the last twenty years or more as per information gathered, an amount in excess of Rupees One Hundred and Fifty Crores, has been collected by way of library cess and used to fund the new Central Library Complex at Panjim, Francisco Luis Gomes Library at Navelim and creation of other facilities. But the Govt. did not have the basic courtesy to extend an invitation to me for inauguration of either library. Perhaps that is in tune with modern times when the contribution of MLAs is judged by the number of roads, bridges and other infrastructure created. Nevertheless, I comfort myself with the knowledge that there is at least one journalist in Fredrick Noronha who was then sitting in the reporters’ gallery who remembered the debate and recalled my suggestion, that brings in crores of rupees.
I live in a leafy little village called Calata. It has changed a little from my childhood days. Fortunately, my village does not have a beach and therefore it has escaped the hustle and bustle of sister villages Majorda and Utorda. The one change that can be discerned is that the old thatch/tiled roof houses with a cycle in front have all disappeared to be replaced by lovely modern bungalows with cars in the porch. All this has very little to do with any investment by the Govt. The progress is not the consequence of the rupee but the petro/cruise dollar. The prosperity is entirely due to the hard work of the villagers who toil hard aboard the ships or on foreign lands. Today, in my neighbourhood even Hindus have given up their historic distaste for the “tarvotti”, and all flaunt their seaman’s status, in the footsteps of the Catholics.
Every new house built usually results in an invitation for the house warming, which I try to attend whenever possible. The owner proudly takes the guests around the house. A must in most new houses nowadays, is a bar. Invariably, well designed and well stocked the bar tastefully displays labels from green to gold, red to black and blue. A wide screen TV and the latest music system, occupy the pride of place.
But, I am yet to see a house with a library with reading facilities. In fact, I rarely even see a book shelf. Somehow, there is very little stress on reading and my friend Zambaulikar’s observation I realize is the absolute truth.
Today, it is only foreigners that I see with books. Our own youngsters are almost always engrossed on their mobile phones or tabs/laptops. Exceptionally few may actually be reading e-books.
(Radharao F.Gracias is a senior Trial Court
Advocate.)
