City Moment – RV Smith’s Almirah Dream, Mayapuri
Every writer’s problem.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
The drawing-room steel rack has hijacked his mind. The Delhi Walla is at the home of Ronald Vivian (RV) Smith, the city’s longtime chronicler, who is the author of many books on Delhi. The New Year began with his latest offering, Delhi: Myth, Lore and History (Niyogi Books).
Mr Smith lives with his family and his father’s typewriter in an apartment in West Delhi’s Mayapuri. He turned 78 a week ago. Throwing an anxious look at the many, many old dust-covered newspapers and books placed precariously on the rack, he points them out as valuable documents of his life and work. “They are my newspaper columns that I have written over the years”, he says. Mr Smith writes ‘Down Memory Lane’ for The Hindu and ‘Quaint Corner’ for The Statesman.
Mr Smith’s rack, it seems, has taken more weight then it could bear. It has started to lean on one side.
The elderly author says: “I want to replace this old rack with a steel almirah. One junk dealer has just the right kind of almirah but he is demanding 5,000 rupees. Now, you see, I’m not a money-making machine. I’m asking him to settle down for 2,000 rupees plus this rack but he is not agreeing… my son says he will throw away these newspapers after I’m gone.”
Mr Smith then sits down beside his rack. It is a moving moment.
The question of Mr Smith’s archives
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Such a resourceful man.
wonderful Delhiwalla!!
🙂
I have known r v smith or Ronnie as I have always called him for nearly 45 years since we were in the statesman together. He has always loved the romance and timeless charm of old Delhi. Many were the days when Ronnie and I and another friend, gurudev, sat in ronnies room in the jama masjid area and quaffed rum in the evenings even as the calls of the muezzin sounded. Ronnie often showed us his Delhi thru the narrow labyrinths where his stories lay waiting for him. A wonderful raconteur and a great friend.
Is anyone planning on helping him buy the almirah? Or can these records be made available online so his legacy stays on?
We can help Mr. Smith maybe raising the required amount through crowd funding. Probably Delhiwalla can issue an appeal.
Thanks Ud n Kate…that would be a nice gesture :), however I was wondering if his family would still keep it after he’s gone…is it possible to maybe find an organisation that scans and uploads these artefacts to make them available online, either on a library sort of website or make one just for this? That way he doesn’t have to worry about losing them ever… Just thinking…
Hey Rashmi, I think the almirah issue may first be sorted. I don’think reaching 5K would be a task. Once his records are secured, we can then find find an organisation/university for digitalisation of his papers.
I would be happy to contribute to a fund for the almirah he wants.