This wall is booked!

A 3-foot wide, 3-foot tall wooden bookshelf now stands on the front wall of Arun Ayyappans house in Thiruvananthapuram. But this is not just about books. Named T A Ayyappans Library in memory of his late father, this Pusthakakoodu, which can be translated to book nest, is Aruns personal attempt to keep the reading habit alive. Pusthakakoodu is open to everyone. Anyone can walk by, take a book, read it here, or carry it home. If they have a book of their own, they can leave it behind. Its not mandatory. But it will be good, says Arun. Saritha Bhaduri, Aruns wife and an assistant executive engineer at the Water Authority, has been a strong supporter of the initiative from the beginning. We didnt even like the idea of building a wall. We always felt it reduced communication even with our neighbours, but we had to build it for many reasons, so we kept it small, not too tall. That way, we can still see people walking by. When the idea of the bookshelf came up, we thought of attaching it to the wall, which we can later turn into a pusthakamathil, i.e. a wall of books. That felt far more meaningful than just leaving it bare, Saritha says. We both believe that if you want to bring change, you should start with your own surroundings. This is just that, she adds. The books currently on the shelf are from Aruns personal collection, along with contributions from his father-in-law and others who were happy to share. Books from all genres are there, including novels, childrens books, scientific, and even spiritual ones. In fact, we already have more books than we can fit. So it will keep expanding, month by month, he says. Arun, who works in the film industry as an assistant to director Nemom Pushparaj, has been a passionate reader since childhood. His father, who worked at the Department of College Education, often brought books home for him from the library there. That early exposure to books shaped Aruns relationship with reading, one that he now hopes to pass on to others. I feel like reading is slowly dying. People are using technology more for everything, Arun says. He believes the open, informal nature of PusthakaKoodu could make a real difference. Time is always the excuse. People say they dont have time to read, and thats true. Not everyone can go to a library, sit there, or deal with the admission process, memberships, and all that. In todays world, everything needs to be simple, convenient, and fast. So when something like this is just out in the open, maybe someone will feel like picking up a book. If that happens, my aim is fulfilled, he adds. There are no strict rules or surveillance. If a person takes a book and doesnt return it, its still okay. They are gaining something from it. This is not a shop where we track what is taken and what is given. The only aim is for people to read. That itself is enough, Arun explains. He dreams of setting up similar shelves in different parts of the city. And more than just a bookshelf, Arun is trying to create a culture of exchanging ideas. To this end, he has even set up chairs and lights in the courtyard of his house, creating a space where people can sit, read, and discuss. The initiative will be inaugurated on Saturday at 7pm by MLA V K Prasanth.