Clinking utensils, the mild brewing of tea, and the vigorous chatter of other people eagerly looking ahead to their meals create a colourful atmosphere throughout the eatery. In most cases, all of the area is imbued with the tantalising aroma of scrumptious foods being ready within the kitchen. On the other hand, this pleasant odor continuously is going not noted by way of consumers whose noses are most often buried within the books they’re studying.
With probably the most cheerful and wrinkly smile, 74-year-old Bhimabai Jondhale observes all of the commotion. “I think a way of delight once I watch all my consumers studying keenly, nearly forgetting what they had been right here for – meals,” she stocks in a dialog with The Higher India.
Fondly referred to as Aaji, Bhimabai has been operating her ebook eating place, ‘Ajjichya Pustakancha Lodge‘ (Grandmother’s Lodge with Books), since 2010, serving now not best scrumptious foods but in addition providing unfastened books to learn.
Where boasts a depository of over 5,000 books in 3 other languages — Marathi, Hindi, and English. On the other hand, the foundation tale of this ebook lodge will without a doubt soften your middle!
For the timeless love for studying
If it’s your birthday or anniversary, you might be certain to not go away and not using a unfastened ebook from Aaji Lodge. Situated in Ozar, Nashik district, Bhimabai’s son is helping her within the operations.
Whilst the lodge could be flourishing with colors and abundant seating areas nowadays, it used to be just a makeshift spot for tea greater than a decade in the past.
“It used to be the one manner for my mom to fill our stomachs. Whilst she is a good girl nowadays, she has had her justifiable share of struggles again within the day,” says Pravin Jondhale, Bhimabai’s son.
Recalling her early existence, Bhimabai stocks that she used to be simply in school 6 when she used to be married off and despatched to a small village close to Nashik.
“As a kid, I used to be an overly prepared observer. I used to like studying, and books had been my perfect good friend. On the other hand, once I were given married, the whole lot modified,” she says.
Clear of house and the whole lot she cherished, Bhimabai discovered herself on my own, tending to a circle of relatives.
“My husband used to be an alcoholic who spent maximum of his time wandering round. No longer best did I’ve to deal with the house, but in addition the farms,” she says, including, “When my daughter become somewhat older, she would move to the farms with me.”
Along with her kids rising up, she sought after to ship them to college. “We had been at all times financially susceptible, however my husband’s habit made issues worse. He, in a state of intoxication, both bought off his land or gambled it away,” she says.
Left and not using a method to feed her circle of relatives, Bhimabai would paintings for hours in several other people’s fields to deliver meals to the desk. “I used to be bored stiff with the existence we had. My son used to be going to college and had picked up a newspaper distribution process to lend a hand me,” she stocks.
Pravin elaborates on his mom’s fight from his standpoint, “All of the kinfolk had been at all times looking to have their manner together with her. My father used to be a father best in title. He by no means took any duties. Like my mom, I had a keenness to get an schooling. I were given a role at a newspaper distributor and funded my schooling myself,” he says.
There used to be just one get away from the difficult existence – transfer to the town. “It used to be like a beacon of hope for us. I might most likely in finding some paintings there, and my mom can be clear of her kinfolk. So, we determined to dump no matter used to be left of our land and moved to the town,” he says.
In 2008, the circle of relatives moved to the town. Pravin had already began a publishing corporate and days had been having a look higher.
“Because of some non-public causes, I needed to close down the publishing corporate, and we had a inventory of Marathi language books with us. My mom and sister didn’t know a lot past farming, in order that they began a makeshift tea stall to fulfill our bills,” he says.
No telephones, best books!
In 2010, Bhimabai, together with her daughter, laid the basis of what’s nowadays Ajjichya Pustakancha Lodge.
Whilst the circle of relatives moved, the name callings and cruel phrases by no means stopped following her. “They might speak about how the ladies of the home will have to now not wander round promoting tea; she will have to deal with the home. However I didn’t care about the ones name callings anymore,” she says.
“My kids and I slowly began to make use of financial savings to increase the tea stall and make it an eatery. What I realized used to be that whilst an individual would look ahead to their meals, they might at all times be buried of their telephone,” she says.
“They wouldn’t communicate with every different however would stay scrolling on their telephone. I discovered the addiction very absurd and sought after to do something positive about it,” she says.
As a lady who used to be keen on studying however by no means were given the danger to, she determined to reintroduce the addiction of studying to other people.
“Books are our perfect pals. They’re your partners in each and every scenario. We began off with simply 25 books in a stand within the eatery and it saved rising. We began encouraging other people to select up a ebook and skim whilst we cook dinner their meal,” she says.
“By the point the meals would arrive at their desk, they might have already reached bankruptcy two of the ebook,” she provides.
Other folks began to realize her initiative and phrase unfold. The ebook assortment which began with best 25 books has now grown to 5,000 books.
“Along with books within the eatery, we additionally give unfastened books on particular events reminiscent of Ladies’s Day and Republic Day to begin a addiction of studying amongst other people. We even have began giving books as presents to hospitals,” he says.
“For other people ready on the medical institution for a cherished one or for their very own remedy, we are hoping our books will lend a hand. My mom believes that medications deal with your frame however books heal your soul,” he provides.
The eatery has additionally since saved on rising and other people have donated books to Aaji’s assortment.
She expresses, “I think thrilled once I see other people studying books on the eatery. All my existence, I’ve struggled to have a solid existence, however what saved me going used to be my kids. For a lady who used to be at all times keen on studying however by no means were given to, once I see small children come to the eatery and skim, I think like I’ve succeeded in my initiative,” she says.
In case you have spare books that you wish to have to donate to the eatery, you’ll be able to achieve out to Pravin at 9922946622
(Edited by way of Padmashree Pande; All photos credit score: Pravin)