A 73-year-old grandmother has a novel way of inspiring people to read books and help them wean off their mobile phones. Bhimabai Jondhale has been running a hotel in Nashik which also looks like a library with books neatly arranged on stands. So, along with the authentic local cuisine served here, customers can also flip through the books and consider reading them.

Lovingly referred to as Ajibai, Jondhale says that her main intention of keeping books is to get people off their habit of being immersed in their phones and explore the fantastic world of books. She proudly reveals that even at this age she doesn’t need glasses to read. 

An avid reader, Jondhale states that she would read the newspaper from the first page till the last every day while she worked at a paper agency for 23 years. She started this hotel 12 years ago and it's been seven years since she began keeping books as well.

Jondhale agrees that mobile phones are indispensable in today’s times, but she is extremely pleased when people step into her hotel and head towards the book section and spend time going through them before placing their order.

Jondhale comes up with unique ideas to encourage her customers to take up reading. There is a wall dedicated to poetry. She offers a discount of 30% on the books. On occasions when people celebrate their birthdays or anniversaries in her hotel, she presents free books to them as a gift.

Jondhale has kept her hotel spic and span dotted with potted plants making the ambiance very lively and soothing. Add to it the comfort of making friends with books in a cozy corner. It sure seems like Jondhale has left no stone unturned to inspire people to read books.