London, Nov. 11: Maureen Travis, the legendary librarian who worked continuously for nearly seven decades at India House, had struck me as being a little bit of a Miss Marple when I met her in 2010.

She was 87 - and like Agatha Christie's amateur detective, a lovely lady who was soft, gentle, but also down to earth. She was very knowledgeable about the thousands and thousands of books in the library and about India, and I was surprised when she admitted she had never been to India.

"It's hard to imagine India House without Maureen," high commissioner Dinesh Patnaik said today about Travis, who died at St Thomas' Hospital in London at the age of 93 on Wednesday.

"Her passing will leave a vacuum that can never be filled. Maureen transcended the rather mundane role of librarian and became an institution during nearly 70 years of service with the high commission."

Patnaik continued: "In our umpteen conversations, she shared several anecdotal experiences and would often mention her twin loves - books and India - not necessarily in that order.

"Her exemplary dedication to work, unwavering commitment, sharp instincts, pleasant demeanour and immaculate manners endeared her to anyone who came in contact with her. I pray to God for her soul to rest in peace."

According to the high commission, "she attended office regularly until she was hospitalised a few days back. She passed away in hospital the day before yesterday."

I think I am probably the only one to have done a formal interview with Maureen. That was back in 2010 when I was editing the annual magazine of the Indian Journalist's Association in Britain and had made India-UK relations the broad theme.

Was there anyone who could give me a definitive list of all the people who had served as high commissioner and deputy high commissioner at India House?

"See Maureen," was the advice, and so it was that I found her one afternoon in her usual position at her desk in the library. On a ledge behind her I noticed photographs of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi.

Maureen told me she came to work every day and that she was busy classifying the large number of books and magazines that came into the well-stocked and beautifully appointed, wood-panelled library.

She also told me she did not believe in computers, relying instead on an Imperial Typewriter, which was 80 years old and in perfect working order.

It became clear she had provided continuity at India House and been a crucial behind-the-scenes figure in helping the high commission develop its information and public relations strategy.

In the last year or so, I had made a mental note to go back and see her. I have looked up my notes from 2010 and can do no better than let Maureen tell her story in her own words:

"I was born in Colwyn Bay in Wales, on June 27, 1923. I have never been to India but I have read books about all parts of India. Sometimes I dream about India.

"I started (in the library) on the 6th of September, 1948. Before me there was another librarian, an English lady, Miss Winifred Thorne, who did 30 years. She started getting this library into shape. She saw the maharajahs assemble for the opening. Miss Thorne was here when George V and Queen Mary opened the library in 1930.

"After the Second World War, students poured into the UK from India. They were studying at Cambridge, Oxford, the London School of Economics, the School of Oriental and African Studies - but they all came here to the library for various things they needed. We have a good arts section, a good literature section, a good history section. We have a good religious section. We have always had a huge amount of material on Mahatma Gandhi.

"I do a lot of work for primary school children in this country. The children write to us asking for help. They all want to know about India - they know nothing about the country. Some of them are actually Indian children born here. At festival times they love it. I send them things on Diwali, on Holi, on the big festivals, on cuisine, dress. My idea is to educate them that India is not necessarily what they have seen on television.

"We receive five journals from India but if you read some of the novels you will get an aspect of India which you may not get normally. Village life you can get from a novel. Rural India is as important as urban India.

"I have known all the press officers here. Khushwant (Singh) was our first - 'public relations officers' they were called in those days. Khushwant was one of the best officers we have had. The English press has never been helpful to India over the years but when he was here, my goodness, they praised us. He was full of fun. He would entertain them (with whisky) in his room.

"Shivaramakrishnan (another press officer) was a very good friend of mine. He could speak Cantonese. He was very clever.

"Krishna Menon was the only high commissioner that we had who walked about the building to see what everybody was doing. He was very interested in education for his students and he would do anything for the students in this country. He lived on the third floor. He had a messenger on duty all night long so that he could have tea and buns.

"Dr L.M. Singhvi borrowed more books than any other high commissioner. He had more than 100 books out at one stage. Dr Singhvi gave me my watch in private when he left. He was one of the best speakers you could have - he spoke extempore.

"Among visitors from India, Mrs Gandhi used to come often and she came with her sons. Nehru had a huge reception and he shook my hand - Churchill never came here; he did not want India to become independent.

"It is through Salman Haidar that I am here now because when the time came in the late 1980s that I should be retired, Mr Haidar called me upstairs and said, 'Well now, what are you going to do?' I said, 'I haven't made any plans.' 'Well, why don't you stay?' So I said, 'OK, I will stay.' And I have been here ever since. I have spent a good part of my life here and I have been very happy. I love my job; it is wonderful. I like the research. I like helping people."