An ode to Xerox machines

I studied and got my degrees in a time when computers were not rage and internet was nascent. There was no google, no PDF, no eBooks and no printer at disposal. We had to rely on books and journals for whatever we learnt. And Photocopier or a Xerox machine played a supreme role in dissemination of knowledge. So many class notes, so many books, so many journal articles I photocopied. Without those photocopies my education would have been unfulfilled. In late 80’s Xerox shops sprung up in every locality of Calcutta; their numbers increased proportionately in front of Educational institutes (schools, colleges, and universities), courts and mercantile offices. I got introduced to Xerox machines when I was class 9, I joined a coaching centre and many times I needed notes to be Xeroxed. That was the beginning. I never knew Xerox copies of books will finally occupy half of my library space. During BSc and MSc days I could not afford many foreign text books because they were so highly priced. So started the habit of getting books from library and Xeroxing them. Some books were reference books, not available in lending library. Reference books used to be issued overnight. Many times the books were so fat could not be Xeroxed overnight. So I like many others found a loophole. If you issue the book on Friday you got the weekend to photocopy. In that way I copied so many books from libraries of Rajabazar Science College ( Physiology dept), Presidency College and Jadavpur University ( during my MTech Biotech ). The books were necessary for NET , GATE preparation and gave me a lot of mileage later on. Then from library of IIT Bombay I got so many books on biography, science and technology got photocopied.

Today as I clean up my racks and throw many old unnecessary printouts I am reminded of those decades of Xeroxing and how it enriched my knowledge. It is known photocopying is a crime but without that crime I guess many Indians will not get their education. For India xerox machine has done for dissemination of knowledge than Gutenberg's invention in past two decades. At least all engineering, medicine, science, arts and commerce students will agree that without Xeroxes their education here in India would have been unfulfilled. Thank you Xerox.