Reading Corner

I wonder if 'reading corner' is an apt term. Moreover I am not at all sure if every body has a reading corner or even reads as such. Notwithstanding these rather odd factors, I still maintain that every one who reads has a reading corner.

My current reading corner is my bed (my side of the bed). I love to read in bed, and the old and weary mattress was a worn out 'hole' or depression which is ever so comfortable. It's custom made so to say...... conforming to my bulk. My bed has a wide open window behind the headboard and a table lamp on the bedside table. I can read anytime, with adequate light. I love my 'hole in the bed' and I enjoy what I read lying on the bed. What is really strange is that I am not the only one who likes the 'hole'. I am told Bossie used to see me out of the door, see me out on the road..through the window and promptly plonk himself down in my 'hole' with a deep sigh. He, I am told, wouldn't budge for a long long time. Shantam shared my 'hole' and actually had the nerve to consider it his 'hole'. He tried to oust me out all the time. This is inspite of him having other reading corners all over the house. Adarsh, when here from University completely took over my 'hole in the bed'. He almost has to be pushed out when I want to sleep. Of course most other times I reign supreme. After all it's my 'hole in the bed'.

Another favourite reading corner I remember is the small balcony at the LC Road house. I used to sit there in the sun / rain / hail or whatever and read my story book. Sajani too used to bring her book, Toro his bone, Shantam his Lego and we co-habited in that small space.. If I remember rightly, there was a street lamp which shed just enough light to read by.

Another reading corner which probably does not exist any more is the Children's Library at the National Library, Calcutta. My mother used to go to the Library to research, and I would be left to fend for myself in the ground floor/basement section where existed an excellent library in a brightly lit room full of the morning sunshine. They had window seats with red and pink roses on the cushions. I loved those window seats and the book selection there. I wonder if anyone knows what happened to the books and the Children's Library at the NL, Calcutta. Another window seat seat memory is the Library at L.C., Darjeeling. Another well lit room with window seats. I had my own window and therefore my own reading corner. There would be hell to pay if any one tried to occupy my corner !!! I did most of my 'growing up' there, as all problems of life had to be solved while I read my book.

There was a time Mother taught at the University on College Street. It was quite possible that the staff at home would stage a walk-out if I was left in their care for any length of time. Ma had to take me along. She parked me at Dasgupta and Co. on College Street and I had the most wonderful time in the gallery like structure upstairs amongst the dusty books. Arabinda (the present owner) joined me sometimes, and I still go delving for forgotten books in this shop. Arabinda swears that at one time I knew how to / where to locate a book, better than his staff.

AD Road had so many reading corners. My favourite was the steps leading to the terrace and the landing there which also had a small table. The staircase was west facing and it was sheer pleasure to read and eat the oranges provided by my aunt. At AD Road once again there was Dada's room with a small ledge at the window. The window was tall and very airy. I used to read there when Dada permitted me to enter his room. It was not often, but I treasure those few times I could sit there and read. Incidentally Dada walked up and down the room to 'read' or study or whatever he was trying to do. This paichari, I found totally unnerving and would beat a hasty retreat the moment Dada started being restless. Dada had the same habit of walking up and down with a book at his JNU quarters. Equally unnerving I'm afraid. I wonder what he does now.

I do not remember my Father or Sanjoy reading in bed. Baba I will always remember had his desk/writing table to work and a black leather arm chair with a standard lamp next to it to read by. It has never ever varied. Even today, when he can not sit up for too long, he sits on the bed.....lamp and tea and books and radio and cat and all. Minimum movements. Sanjoy has his own reading chair....another black leather chair and he sits there for his 'read' (like Baba) with his books, cigarettes, ash-tray, dog/cat and whatever. His chair too incidentally has a marked 'hole'. Sanjoy hates being disturbed when he reads.

The Goethalls Library at SXC has always been my refuge for serious academic reading and writing. For whatever reason I have a small desk by a tall window. An old fashioned desk with a lift up lid. For years I have sat at that desk and read and thought and reflected and cogitated. I have written and typed (on a laptop) without anybody ever bothering me. In an Institute of 7000 strong pupils, it is a wonder that the Library maintains absolute peace. It is a sanctuary of sorts.

Sheldon House had so many reading corners that I cannot stop to finish the list. The huge balcony, my cubby-hole study (on a pile of stored mattresses), on the pomello tree, on the swings, the staircase, Raju's little verandah. Actually let these remain secret. The less said the better.

Our old and dilapidated house by the grave yard has reading corners too. Sajani for years sat on a large tin trunk and read her book. She now sits on the floor by the window to read in the warm sunlight. Shantam managed to squeeze himself in a corner of the ever-so-narrow balcony to read his Ivanhoe or struggle through Bindur Chhele (and shed copious tears). Of course I was never to notice all this as it was his private corner. Maybe the house was/is too small to offer all its inmates a private corner to read. That is why maybe we sometimes have to take turns. After Shantam grew taller, he could not fit into that small corner of the balcony. He changed base and took over the wooden window seat in the children's room. He stretched himself out there with his toy cars, music, cat/dog, discman and sketch book and would not answer if called. We had given up getting him to come out of his room if he did not wish to. Adarsh has earned himself a rather large 'hole' in the drawing room divan, and also shares the arm chair 'hole' with Chico, and my 'hole in the bed' with me. There are other reading corners....not so exclusively owned ..... which we all share.

There has been other reading corners which I have excluded here..... the DSE Library steps, particularly at night, pavements and curb-sides in many places and many cities. (Shantam was caught reading by street light down our lane ). There has been exclusive corners for all of us in the Schools and Universities we have studied. Some we disclose. Some are secret. The house at Keyatala Road had a cement tank which was perhaps my first ever reading corner. I had a cloth bag full of books which I used to take there to read .... away from my baby sister. Sajani can read anywhere, including Calcutta public buses. Shantam always read with his sketch pads .... I never did get to figure out why he needed to sketch while reading.

It may seem strange but Skippy reads on Sajani's desk, under a table lamp. She obviously reads whatever Sajani reads. Daku had a reading corner ..... the IIT Maths. He used it as a pillow as long as the children were studying. After they went to bed, he slept on my bed. Boss squeezed himself under Sajani's desk and Bagha always studied with Shantam. Chico watches racy action movies on the laptop every evening (thanks to Adarsh and Shantam) curled up his his favourite chair while Iago chews the days newspaper under the bed.

Does not everyone have a reading corner?