After the huge haul of more than twenty books the previous Sunday I was reluctant to go to Abids as I was afraid I would find more books to buy. However, keeping my fears aside I went there with the resolve that I would only look and not buy even a single book. My resolve held when I came across a wonderful biography of Indira Gandhi but did not buy it. But the resolve melted when I spotted another book that I felt I would never find again anywhere.
Exactly a decade ago, in March 2015 I found an old copy of ‘The Love Letter and Other Stories’ by Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer that had fourteen stories in it. I was quite elated at finding a book by a Malayalam writer I had only read about till then. The stories in it were translations of the original Malayalam stories into English. I read all of them and one story about a boy and an elephant remained in my mind. (see post dated 8 March, 2015)
Then last Sunday on the same stretch of pavement at Abids where I had found my first Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer book I found a copy of ‘Me Grandad ‘Ad and Elephant’ by Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer. I almost did not look at the cover of the book that had the title ‘Me Grandad ‘Ad and Elephant’ peeking out on the top of the book while the rest of the book was under another book. I thought it was a childrens’ book and was about to walk away when something made me take out the book for a better look and when I saw the name of the author I was thrilled. I felt a rush of pure joy at finding this wonderful book.
A Penguin title, it has only three stories: Childhood Friend; Me Grandad ‘Ad an Elephant; and Pattumma’s Goat that were translated from the Malayalam by R.E. Asher and Achamma Coilparampil Chandarsekaran. The cover illustration is done by Krishnendu Chaki and cover design by Amiya Bhattacharya. Also I loved the font used that reminds me of good books.
It looked an old copy and inside I saw the round stamp of ‘Kaaizens Reading Space & Library’ on one of the front pages. I got this book for just fifty rupees.
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