The year is over, and so is Christmas. But a few traditions have stayed in our hearts, especially the ones that ring true with the core principles of Pune Learns. Shivani Jamma, Pune Learns’ EPC Associate and Mentor, is exploring three traditions that said books mean more than just a story.
The Good Flood
Picture a country of few coming out of World War II in the 1940s when only a few commodities, like paper, were freely available. The people of Iceland took comfort from the war in gifting books to their loved ones on Christmas and thus Jolabokaflod, or “Christmas Book Flood”, was born. The book gifting tradition of Jolabokaflod is a beautiful Icelandic tradition of gifting books on Christmas and spending the night reading together. Each household receives a catalogue of newly published books called Bokatidindi in their mailbox just before Christmas, allowing them time to pick their buys and gift in time. Iceland publishes five books for every 1000 Icelanders. It is a nation of bookaholics. And I, for one, cannot imagine a better way to spend a Christmas evening.
Mohan’s Book Shop
A quaint little book shop, just outside a school, was run by a middle-aged, kind-looking man named Mohan. He only ever loved two things dearly, books and kids. The school kids made up most of his customer base. And Mohan had a most unique and noble way of making kids fall in love with their inner artists and readers. Mohan worked the barter system – books in exchange for drawings or paintings. All the kids lined up with a piece of paper on which they’d poured their hearts out in blue, green, red, and more and Mohan adored every piece, pinned it up on the wall of the shop and gave the kids the book of their choice in exchange. Some books made their way back to him and some kids came back grown-up to thank him for being their hope. I wish my school had a Mohan’s Book Shop nearby; I would’ve loved reading more than I do and all the practice would’ve enabled me to draw a horse that doesn’t look like a cow. Or so I hope.
Little Free Library
Walking by a tiny installation that looks a lot like a birdhouse but houses books instead; doesn’t it tell you “Knowledge will give you wings”? The Little Free Library helps neighbourhoods set up these boxes where anyone can pick a book they like and drop one for others to pick up. The trust that readers put into each other binds neighbourhoods together. A community that reads together, grows together. Isn’t this the best recommendation engine?
At the risk of sounding like a centenarian, I’m going to go ahead and say that no other way of spending time comes close to reading books sitting by the window with a hot coffee in hand. And it’s picturesque as well! I am determined to make people around me follow these traditions and pass them on to their grandkids so that the flood keeps flowing, kids keep reading, and neighbourhoods keep bonding!
– Written by Shivani Jamma