Indian Writing

For the true meaning of junoon, meet Laxman Rao, chaiwalla and novelist:

Over 30 years ago when Laxman Rao ran away from his home in Talegaon Dashashar, western Maharashtra, with just Rs. 40 in his pocket, he had little idea of what life had in store for him. In Bhopal where he chose to get off the train, Laxman worked as a labourer for three months before he boarded the train once again and came to Delhi. “The first place I landed in was Birla Mandir and to survive I started cleaning cups and plates at different dhabas. The year was 1975 and thos e were the days when Gulshan Nanda was very famous. He used to write the most amazing stories in Hindi. I was so influenced by his writing that I decided that even I wanted to be Gulshan Nanda.”

“I felt, as I had done only class X, I needed to study further so at day time I worked and by night I would sit and read my books. I passed XI, XII and even did my graduation from Delhi University. Then in 1997, opposite the Suchita Bhawan on Vishnu Digambar Road, I built a mud platform and started selling paan beedi. I did that for 14 years before I started selling tea.”

He finished writing his first book, Nai duniya ki nai kahaniya in 1979. Armed with his manuscript, he enthusiastically made the rounds of publishers. “I went to atleast 10 publishers but no one was interested. One even told me tum paan beedi bechanewale tum kya likogye. Mere ko get out kar diya. So I decided I have come so close to making this book happen, why should I give up. So I bought paper, it was a 128 pages book and I spent Rs. 7,000 to get it published. I priced it at Rs. 7.” He decided he would be the distributor too. Everyday, armed with a bag full of his novels, Laxman made the rounds of schools and colleges on his bicycle.

“Five years later or after my death, people will say here was a man who struggled and wrote and they will remember my work.”