Lockdown. Unlock. Partial lockdown. Night Curfew. You have experienced it all in the last year. You now know how it feels to be caged. Have you ever thought of the books caged neatly in fancy cupboards, racks and walls? An emotional testimony to your interest in a broad spectrum of subjects. Considering that they are not mere trophies on display. The books waiting for someone to take them out and help them to the knowledge that otherwise remained trapped inside. Many have never been referred to, and many will never have their pages flicked again. Some books have yellowed down with time. They silently cry and urge you to uncage the books.
ANNUAL RITUAL– UNCAGE BOOKS
Last week, once again, I cleaned and dusted my book racks. Checked the books I own. The books were spread all over and seemed like the old book bazaar of Daryaganj, New Delhi. And I realised it was time for the annual ritual- UNCAGE THE BOOKS.
Like every book lover, I love reading and keeping books. However, I know the books that I will never again refer to. They are just there in the book rack. I must help them find new readers who could be helped with the knowledge, smile, and thoughts trapped within them. These books must be made to feel wanted again. I must UNCAGE THE BOOK. The books must realise their potential instead of remaining buried in the open graveyard- the books rack and cupboards.
Doctors, Lawyers and many other professionals are in a perpetual learning mode. They have many books they need to access with high frequency. New theories, processes and continued learning necessitate the need for new books and updated volumes. They cannot uncage the books.
However, there are thousands of neglected books in other places. Books that have never been opened again. The pages that have not been flipped for ages. Books, with a negligible chance of ever being reread. Should they not be liberated- UNCAGED- so that someone else could benefit?
Why not share them instead of keeping them caged? Why not pass them on to people who may want to read them? Ask yourself, Why not UNCAGE the books you no longer need?
EVERYONE HAS BOOKS TO UNCAGE.
I am sure every house will find books that are waiting to be uncaged. Academic Books.
Help books. Stories. Fiction. Non-fiction. Memories. Autobiographies. Thought leadership books. Professional books. Subject books Keys and kunjies. Exam preparatory books. Books that have served their purpose. Unless well maintained and kept like in a museum of pride, they will rot and one day- someday they will be discarded- may be sold to a raddhiwaala.
Why not just UNCAGE THE BOOKS, help someone, and share the books? Extend their life. Share it with the person who wants it. Who will pick it up or pay at least for the delivery? Maybe for some needy people, you even pay for the delivery.
MY EXPERIENCE TO UNCAGE THE BOOKS.
I have been formally UNCAGING the books since 2016. For the first time ever, it was challenging and emotionally draining. Now, I look forward to t. It is an annual ritual with me.
At least more than 350 books of mine have found new readers and owners. When I uncage the book and send them on their journey to meet the new owner or reader, I take time to add a personalised message. I ask them to part of the chain. Request them not to cage the books they get from me, or they already have. I tell them to join the ‘UNCAGE THE BOOKS’ movement. Ask them too to uncage the books they no longer need. And to keep the book burial ground least populated.
There is an added advantage. Uncaging the books is a cleansing ritual. While you select the books to uncage, you realise your interest and subjects that really interest and impress you. You create a gap, space, a void where books used to be. This acts as a push to go ahead and get more books. You become a lot more selective while picking new books.
BOOKS BEING UNCAGED 2022.
HOW TO GET THE BOOKS I UNCAGE?
So, pick the book you want and let me know. Find the uncage post on Facebook and send a message listing the book you want or DM me on Twitter. P Please mention the books you want along with your name and city. We will get to the address at a later date.
I try following the ‘First Come, First Served’ rule. As I wish to spread books and the UNCAGE THE BOOKS thought as wide as possible, I try giving away not more than 4-5 books to a person. This also helps to ensure these uncaged books are relay read and the purpose of Uncaging is served.
DON’T UNCAGE ALL BOOKS
Keep the books you think you will refer to again. Check out the books dear to you and those you will not want to uncage. Don’t uncage the ones you plan to read again. I have my own set of books; I do not intend to UNCAGE.
As I love books, I understand people’s emotions and why they cannot come to terms with the concept of UNCAGE THE BOOKS. It is fine; I was like that before. Books shifted stations and houses with me. Till 2014 when for the first time, I tried uncaging the books.
DIFFERENT WAY TO UNCAGE.
If you are a regular traveller, you could always carry the book you want to UNCAGE and leave it with a surprise note for the next passenger to find it. Come to think of it. You could be starting a chain reaction. Suddenly and surely, you will contribute to books finding more readers. In the past, I have left books in aircraft seat pockets. I leave them with a cheeky note for the next passenger who may find it. Move on, share the books, and un-cage them from their graveyard. However, in the current COVID-19 scare, one does not really suggest this pattern. In fact, my first book by Priya Kumar, I think I found in an Indigo flight.
GIFTING IS NOT UNCAGING.
Gifting books is a different game. There you consciously make a choice. You try matching the reader and the title or the message. I do that by gifting select books to people I believe will best benefit from them. I find books a far better gift on occasions like birthdays, farewells, anniversaries etc.
My favourite book to give away has moved and changed with time. Initially, the gift book would be THINK AND GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill, which later changed to TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom. For some time, I was gifted CATALYST by Chandramouli Venkatesan. I then moved to gifting his second book, GETTING BETTER AT GETTING BETTER. Then for some time, I gave the book SPRING- BOUNCING BACK FROM REJECTION by Ambi Parameswaran. My current favourite for gifting is ‘THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by Mitch Albom.
IS THERE A START-UP IDEA IN ‘UNCAGE THE BOOKS’
I have been trying to start a conversation. No, I have not really moved further on it. Last time, I told the representative of an industry association as a nice process to encourage sharing knowledge. They have to make space available on their platform for people to share the books they want to uncage. Visitors could identify the book they want – know the delivery charges- pay them upfront, and get the book. Sounds silly. It could be a start-up idea. And if someone does see a possibility, I am willing to join hands and start it up.
BOOKS UNCAGED IN 2021.
in 2021, I am uncaging more than 50 books. Here are the pictures of uncaged books
PAHAADI 2022 BOOK LAUNCHED
BLOG/024/2021
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