Do you remember life before the internet?

In the early 80s, there was no internet in Temple City, Madurai (Tamil Nadu, South of India). We studied in school. 

We cycled five to six kilometres – to and fro – to go to the university library. The only library available for us had a good collection of books, newspapers, journals and rich novels.

We used to go there at least twice or thrice a week and spend a lot of time looking for books. We sat there, read and spent time taking notes. 

Books of interest were loaned by the librarian on membership cards. Strictly three cards to a member.

Books were to be returned or renewed every two weeks. Or pay a penalty for default. 

If some books we found were gone, we would wait at the librarian’s desk like how herons wait to catch fish in ponds.

We grabbed books at the desk itself or else it was too difficult to find them on the shelves later. We shared those books among ourselves after reading. Those were the jolly helluva days.

And the Internet has arrived.