Koraput: Internet is not at all a substitute for books, says Jalandhar Gantha, a retired teacher and book lover, who has managed to pile up over 6,000 books of national and international publications at his home.
Gantha, a native of Maoist-afflicted Narayanpatna in this district, spends his post-retirement life amid stacks of books.
“I was dying to read good books in my childhood but unfortunately didn’t have access to them. So I had set a goal to collect books once I get a secured job. I started with collection of children’s magazines like Shishulekha, Baramaja and Meenabazar,” the bibliophile said when asked about the reason behind such an obsession with books.
These days, he collects books which can help students clear competitive examinations, while his son Sanjeev helps him in retrieving information in this regard from the internet.
The proud possessor of over 6,000 books and 1,500 e-books, Gantha’s collection includes history, philosophy, biography, science and information technology.
When asked whether money had ever been an issue for purchasing such a huge number of books, Gantha responded in the negative, giving credit to his school teacher daughter who often finances for his collections. Besides, he also spends most of his pension on his obsession.
“It gives me a sense of satisfaction when I look at these treasures but at the same time I get worried about the maintenance of these books,” Gantha says.
Though the bookworm is worried about the preservation of his collection, he hopes that someday it would help the needy. However, the retired teacher is not ready to donate the books to any existing library.
Despite such a vast assemblage of books at his small house, he is yet to seek assistance from any government or non-government institution for their conservation, Gantha said. PNN
