I came across this craftsman while visiting an office, who was binding print outs of all the correspondences, accounts, back issues of journals and magazines, etc. He does this regularly for about 100 offices, colleges, and other institutions in Chennai city. He has been doing this for over forty years , while his father did it for seventy years. None of his children like this job and he fears that this craft will stop with him.
He liked the way his father turned the worn out journals into good looking and readable by binding them attractively. One of the colleges, where he does this binding work has a large library, which is considered to be having journals form early nineteen hundreds. I remember visiting section of that library, where back issues are preserved. The bound volumes of back issues looked visually most impressive. That was his inspiration to continue this job after his graduation.
He has a sense of history. He has a personal collection of news paper cuttings of history of Chennai. He has a collection of currency notes form 1900. He has a display of cutting machines used to cut papers in his binding work, at his home.
He does not earn a great deal. His two children are employed and married. He therefore has no financial commitment towards them.
He uses his leisure time to to help his wife who takes classes at their home for children, who have learning needs. He helps some of them in developing skills in drawing and paper craft.
I found talking to Shankar most helpful. He lives a content life and is rooted in his family. He has a sense of history and he binds books to preserve history. He lives mindful of others. He has high standards for himself in his work. What a visional mission!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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