In Love with Books

Pratibha Uppal Retires After 34 years

Books are the best window to the world! She learnt that from her late father who was a college principal and an Indian Freedom Fighter. Her eighteen years of schooling in Hyderabad further instilled the value of reading books.
 
Growing up in Andhra Pradesh was like being in a cultural lab. Interaction with and among Hindus, Muslims, rural folks and the urban dwellers, Peace Corps Volunteers from America and Germany was as exciting as developing skills to read, write and speak Hindi, Telegu, Marathi, English and, just plain old friendly speak.

Marriage brought her to Toronto - a cultural hub in North America, some 35 years ago. So building bridges with different peoples from different lands was easy. Because books were her main interest, dealing with books became her main, only occupation.

She worked at the Robarts Library, University of Toronto. There she helped thousands of students, professors, research scholars and plain folks borrow reference materials and, of course, books, many books.

As if that were not enough of the reading stuff. After she helped her two boys learn from books and they became contributing adults, her weekends were free. This time it was teaching Hindi to NRI's kids at the T.L.Kennedy School in Mississauga. She is proud of her 'Hindi' kids especially their parents.

At first getting Hindi books in this area was difficult. Some came from India with friends and
family, some appeared from the attic and some were donated by the Indian Counsel General in Toronto. Most of all, the growing demand for Hindi books took care of the supply.

Is she lost without books now that she has retired after 34 years of herd work at Robarts. Pratibha Uppal would be happy to tell you!