Borders- My Abode in US
Posted : July 20, 2005 at 11:51 am [IST]
During these six months of my stay in US, Borders could keep me usefully engaged and happy. It gave me a confidence about my physical and mental ability to keep on reading magazines and books of serious nature -mostly professional for about 5 hours or sometimes more at a stretch without much problem. Perhaps I never read voraciously ever, even in my college days. I got enlightened through books on many subjects and writers of different classes. It is really an enjoyment of a special kind to lay hand on all the latest books every day. Perhaps, it is also the reason why America is so ahead. The nation that loves to nurture interest in books -the primary source of knowledge is bound to be the leader.
On a normal working day, Anand picks me at around 1.30 PM from near the main gate of Mansion Grove Apartments on Lick Mill Road and drops at Borders at Mc Carthy Blvd accommodates me. At his day end for CISCO, Anand again picks me back for home.
Girls and boys at counter have come to know of me. I was surprised when the girl one day could remember my name ‘Indra’. The elderly one one day inquired if I am doing some research and wished me success.
I have seen young Indian and perhaps Chinese young women sitting in-group or alone and prepare for some examinations to make themselves employable in US. Perhaps without double incomes, the couple finds themselves handicapped here in the race of material possessions. Even back home in India, the story is same. I also find mothers using whole lot of costly teaching materials for coaching their dull (?) ones. The place also serves as a good place for preliminary interview for jobs or even for some business meetings. And for some, the cozy sofas are good enough to relax and even snore.
Borders will be one thing that I shall be badly missing on my return to Noida. I wish our authorities of satellite towns such as Gurgaon, Noida, or Salt Lake invite Borders or Barnes & Nobles to open their outlets there. Or some Indian entrepreneurs provide similar facilities. As I hear Oxford Book Store at Park Street in Kolkata has one similar to Borders. I am sure it can be a sound business proposition in those towns with huge lot of young professional population.
If not Borders, the authorities must set up some good world-class libraries with all modern facilities in these satellite townships in India. These libraries are there in almost all townships and counties in USA. We did visit Santa Clara City Library twice. One in Mountain View is having better facilities. These are very much useful for all the people young and old, men and women, and even kids. I wish the education departments, municipalities, and even people in position will do something. All these townships have huge number of former and present celebrities, and scholars. They must put their weights to have some good public libraries in their localities.
The day India can have the bookstores and libraries of these standards, I shall be sure the knowledge society has really taken solid root.
- Indra
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