 A gallery of old books
R Vijayaraghavan is one of the senior journalists of Chennai. He has done a variety of assignments in a colourful career. A former editor of Chennaionline, he was before that the Resident Editor of ‘The New Indian Express’ at Chennai, after making a significant contribution to business journalism in such leading newspapers as the ‘Financial Express’, ‘The Hindu Businessline’ and ‘Economic Times’. More than his qualities as a journalist, what make Viji a special person are his sense of humour and large-hearted approach to helping fellow journalists and young people in general.
Viji is also a great sports lover, with a very respectable talent in cricket. He was an attacking, attractive batsman in the sixties and seventies, with several impressive performances to his credit in the league and inter-collegiate matches of the period. An avid golfer, he is a fixture in the Chennai and Kodaikanal courses depending on the time of the year.
Vijayaraghavan is a bibliophile with an interesting range of reading preferences from P G Wodehouse and Tolkien to Bernard Shaw and Bertrand Russell, not to mention the best of cricket literature. He is also one of the most optimistic people around, always thinking up new projects to attempt. Life’s ups and downs have never managed to deter him from pursuing his dreams. His latest project, a well-appointed lending library at a central location, is all set for a successful future.
‘Old Books Gallery and Lending Library’ is a smart little outfit at 121, St. Marys Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, is actually quite spacious, with books stacked in two storeys. It is already a fine collection of books and promises to grow bigger and better, thanks in part to Viji’s many friends who have volunteered to contribute books from their personal collections.
The best thing about the library is the presence of the owner, who is an urbane and well read guide to the reading customer. When Viji urges you to borrow this or that book, it is not salesmanship at work; it is a sharing of his love of books. I foresee a day in the near future when Old Books Gallery becomes one of the most popular destinations of booklovers.
V Ramnarayan
vramnarayan@gmail.com
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