Clinking utensils, the mild brewing of tea, and the full of life chatter of individuals eagerly awaiting their meals create a vibrant atmosphere inside the eatery. Usually, the whole house is imbued with the tantalising aroma of scrumptious meals being ready within the kitchen. Nonetheless, this pleasant scent usually goes unnoticed by prospects whose noses are usually buried within the books they’re studying.
With probably the most cheerful and wrinkly smile, 74-year-old Bhimabai Jondhale observes the whole commotion. “I really feel a way of pleasure after I watch all my prospects studying keenly, virtually forgetting what they have been right here for – meals,” she shares in a dialog with The Higher India.
Fondly often called Aaji, Bhimabai has been working her guide restaurant, ‘Ajjichya Pustakancha Lodge‘ (Grandmother’s Lodge with Books), since 2010, serving not solely scrumptious meals but additionally providing free books to learn.
The place boasts a depository of over 5,000 books in three completely different languages — Marathi, Hindi, and English. Nonetheless, the origin story of this guide resort will certainly soften your coronary heart!
For the timeless love for studying
If it’s your birthday or anniversary, you might be certain to not depart and not using a free guide from Aaji Lodge. Positioned in Ozar, Nashik district, Bhimabai’s son helps her within the operations.
Whereas the resort could be flourishing with colors and ample seating areas immediately, it was solely a makeshift spot for tea greater than a decade in the past.
“It was the one approach for my mom to fill our stomachs. Whereas she is a constructive girl immediately, she has had her justifiable share of struggles again within the day,” says Pravin Jondhale, Bhimabai’s son.
Recalling her formative years, Bhimabai shares that she was merely in school 6 when she was married off and despatched to a small village close to Nashik.
“As a baby, I used to be a really eager observer. I used to like studying, and books have been my finest buddy. Nonetheless, after I obtained married, every little thing modified,” she says.
Away from residence and every little thing she beloved, Bhimabai discovered herself alone, tending to a household.
“My husband was an alcoholic who spent most of his time wandering round. Not solely did I’ve to care for the house, but additionally the farms,” she says, including, “When my daughter turned somewhat older, she would go to the farms with me.”
Along with her youngsters rising up, she wished to ship them to highschool. “We have been at all times financially weak, 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 means to feed her household, Bhimabai would work for hours in several individuals’s fields to carry meals to the desk. “I used to be fed up with the life we had. My son was going to highschool and had picked up a newspaper distribution job to assist me,” she shares.
Pravin elaborates on his mom’s battle from his perspective, “All of the relations have been at all times attempting to have their approach along with her. My father was a father solely in title. He by no means took any duties. Like my mom, I had a zeal to get an schooling. I obtained a job at a newspaper distributor and funded my schooling myself,” he says.
There was just one escape from the difficult life – transfer to the town. “It was like a beacon of hope for us. I’d most likely discover some work there, and my mom could be away from her relations. So, we determined to unload no matter was left of our land and moved to the town,” he says.
In 2008, the household moved to the town. Pravin had already began a publishing firm and days have been trying higher.
“Attributable to some private causes, I needed to shut down the publishing firm, 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, solely books!
In 2010, Bhimabai, alongside along with her daughter, laid the muse of what’s immediately Ajjichya Pustakancha Lodge.
Whereas the household moved, the taunts and harsh phrases by no means stopped following her. “They might speak about how the ladies of the home mustn’t wander round promoting tea; she ought to care for the home. However I didn’t care about these taunts anymore,” she says.
“My youngsters and I slowly began to make use of financial savings to broaden the tea stall and make it an eatery. What I seen was that whereas an individual would wait for his or her meals, they might at all times be buried of their telephone,” she says.
“They might not converse with one another however would preserve scrolling on their telephone. I discovered the behavior very absurd and wished to do one thing about it,” she says.
As a girl who was keen on studying however by no means obtained the possibility to, she determined to reintroduce the behavior of studying to individuals.
“Books are our greatest buddies. They’re your companions in each scenario. We began off with simply 25 books in a stand within the eatery and it stored rising. We began encouraging individuals to select up a guide and skim whereas we prepare dinner their meal,” she says.
“By the point the meals would arrive at their desk, they might have already reached chapter two of the guide,” she provides.
Individuals began to understand her initiative and phrase unfold. The guide assortment which began with solely 25 books has now grown to 5,000 books.
“Along with books within the eatery, we additionally give free books on particular events corresponding to Girls’s Day and Republic Day to provoke a behavior of studying amongst individuals. We even have began giving books as items to hospitals,” he says.
“For individuals ready on the hospital for a beloved one or for their very own therapy, we hope our books will assist. My mom believes that medicines deal with your physique however books heal your soul,” he provides.
The eatery has additionally since stored on rising and folks have donated books to Aaji’s assortment.
She expresses, “I really feel delighted after I see individuals studying books on the eatery. All my life, I’ve struggled to have a steady life, however what stored me going was my youngsters. For a lady who was at all times keen on studying however by no means obtained to, after I see younger youngsters come to the eatery and skim, I really feel like I’ve succeeded in my initiative,” she says.
In case you have spare books that you simply need to donate to the eatery, you possibly can attain out to Pravin at 9922946622
(Edited by Padmashree Pande; All footage credit score: Pravin)