Remembering a bibliophile...

Mr.T.S. Shanbhag, a man who lived for books, literally. A philanthropist to the core who carved out a business empire out of a precious stone of goodwill, this Padmashree recipient, the founder of the legendary Strand Book Stall of Fort was a gem of a person. His plain statement that he didn't wish to make profit out of selling books but he just wanted books to be made available to readers are proof of the generosity in this man's heart. His customers were the Who's Who of Independent India but he remained a down to Earth person till the end. The friendly conversation he used to have with people visiting the 'treasurehouse of books' which he had, his seamless knowledge of books and their authors, his willingness to go out of the way to help were some virtues which made a STRAND visit to be looked forward to. Sadly, myself and others who frequent his bookstall won't be able to interact with this voracious reader but that won't stop us from spending holiday afternoons travelling to Fort Market and searching the bookshelves at STRAND for books, books and nothing else but books! May his soul read in peace!