One of my lasting memories from childhood is going to the Chennai Book Fair with Ma and Daddy.
Used to take place every year around Pongal, at Quaid-e-Millath College for Women, in Chennai. There used to be a hundred-odd stalls and we would patiently go to almost each stall to browse the books. We would end up buying a small bunch - but I looked forward to being able to collect and add to my book collection every year. Daddy was very particular that I buy mostly general knowledge and factual books - to own - because I'll need to read/re-read/reference those. Fiction was relegated to the humble lending library (which I didn't complain about, because he took me there quite a bit).
Why I think the memory is so lasting is because the hobby I associate most with Daddy is reading. I almost always saw him reading something in his spare time, and that we were both happily willing to spend hours poring over books at the Book Fair was a huge father-son bonding event for us.
After he passed away, I still visited the Book Fair every year - with an uncle or a friend - and always realised the other person wore out within an hour or so, while I was just beginning to warm up (for the many hours ahead!)
Over the years, I missed several editions as I moved out of Chennai, but visited whenever I could. Each time I went, it was half for the love of books and half for the memory of my Daddy. This year, I was fortunate to be in Chennai for the 41st edition of the Chennai Book Fair. The venue was different, and the number of stalls had increased five-fold! But I stood at the entrance, as a ten-year-old throbbing with excitement to enter the Book Fair with Daddy.
I messaged my wife: "Every time I come here, I feel I've come to meet my Daddy."
She messaged back: "Maybe he also visits this place for the same reason."
Used to take place every year around Pongal, at Quaid-e-Millath College for Women, in Chennai. There used to be a hundred-odd stalls and we would patiently go to almost each stall to browse the books. We would end up buying a small bunch - but I looked forward to being able to collect and add to my book collection every year. Daddy was very particular that I buy mostly general knowledge and factual books - to own - because I'll need to read/re-read/reference those. Fiction was relegated to the humble lending library (which I didn't complain about, because he took me there quite a bit).
Why I think the memory is so lasting is because the hobby I associate most with Daddy is reading. I almost always saw him reading something in his spare time, and that we were both happily willing to spend hours poring over books at the Book Fair was a huge father-son bonding event for us.
After he passed away, I still visited the Book Fair every year - with an uncle or a friend - and always realised the other person wore out within an hour or so, while I was just beginning to warm up (for the many hours ahead!)
Over the years, I missed several editions as I moved out of Chennai, but visited whenever I could. Each time I went, it was half for the love of books and half for the memory of my Daddy. This year, I was fortunate to be in Chennai for the 41st edition of the Chennai Book Fair. The venue was different, and the number of stalls had increased five-fold! But I stood at the entrance, as a ten-year-old throbbing with excitement to enter the Book Fair with Daddy.
I messaged my wife: "Every time I come here, I feel I've come to meet my Daddy."
She messaged back: "Maybe he also visits this place for the same reason."
