Gerald D'Cunha

  “A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” ―  George R.R. Martin,  A Game of Thrones   S ome days ago, when I was about to retire for the day, I happened to see a message from a stranger. He wrote: “Mr. Gerald, last week, I had been to my friend’s house (Nitin Arora), where I found your new blog book and got immediately attracted towards it. Seeing my face, Nitin immediately handed the book to me saying, ‘You know my allergy for the books… Take it, you will love it.’… Thus, I am the proud owner of your book… Let me tell you, I haven’t put it down!” Well, I was hugely   flattered, and got a sound sleep that night! Nitin was one of my dear ex-students. He is well-placed in life. A few months ago, when I had approached him for the subscription of these ten-book series, he gladly did. But, he said the same thing to me, “Gerry Sir, you know my allergy for the books. So, this subscription is not for your books, but for...

  “There is more treasure in books  than in all the pirate’s loot in Treasure Island.” Walt Disney   “W ho reads books these days?” “Khushika does,” I said without blinking my eyes. “Who is she?” “One who reads books voraciously.” The above conversation took place yesterday between me and a 40-year-old man, an MBA, and works for a large organization. When I was excitedly sharing with this man about my plans to come out with ten books (in coming two years) from hundreds of blog articles posted by me over several years,  the man wasn’t impressed. “Who reads books these days?” was his question. There are many, many, many people, out there, who simply love reading books... I know there are ... O n last Sunday, my wife and I had attended a grand wedding reception in ITC Grand Maratha hotel near Mumbai International airport. While there, we bumped into an old friend, who was there along with his wife, daughters, and son-in-law. But, the center of atten...

  “I have always imagined, that Paradise will be a kind of library.” Jorge Luis Borges     O n last Sunday, my friend (once, my dear student) Shankar and his wife Swetha had invited some of us to their house located in a plush society. They have two beautiful, talented daughters – Anvesha, 13 and Avyakta, 9. I had carried two books – a novel for Anvesha, another book of   Japanese Folktales for little Avyakta. While the novel was a new one, the book of Japanese Folktales was an old one which I had at home for quite some time. Did I hesitate before gifting this book to the little girl? Not at all... It’s what the book contained inside, and not how new or how nicely it’s packaged – yes, I firmly believed in this. The little girl, I am sure, will appreciate the amazing folktales from the land of Japan... and, once she is done with it, I am sure, she will pass on the book to another deserving kid... Books are meant to be circulated... While we were at...