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Located in the heart of Delhi, this book store promotes lesser-known literary works and hosts events with writers.
The city of Delhi has been synonymous with literature for a long time. Be it the presence of writers like Arundhati Roy or cosy bookstores scattered throughout the city, Delhi is a haven for anyone who loves books. Now, one independent bookstore in the city has emerged as the go-to place for people who want something other than the latest bestseller.
Nestled in the heart of Delhi, The Bookshop Inc has been promoting lesser known literary gems such as translated works and classics from small independent publishers. The present store maintains the tradition of the original bookstore, which was established by K.D. Singh at Jor Bagh in 1971. The store ended operations in October 2023 before Sonal Narain, who served as a former partner, reestablished the business as its new owner.
With its tall, dark wooden bookshelves and mirrors on the ceiling, the store retains the sentimental charm of the original Bookshop. The comfy corner seating provided by cane stools creates a space where visitors can lose themselves in their books as they forget about their responsibilities.
Customers can find more than just great novels at The Bookshop Inc. because it serves as a venue for literary events. Book launch events and literary discussions and readings attract cultural notables, including Ramachandra Guha, Ravish Kumar, William Dalrymple, and Amitava Kumar, to the venue quite often. The ‘After-School Patri’ is another venture, and features the store’s pop-up sale of second-hand books.
The Bookshop Inc. has launched book clubs to handle reader demands after numerous requests, resulting in groups that explored backlist titles along with food writing and translated fiction. The events seek to show readers works that have not received enough attention while building momentum for collective discussion. The February meeting occurred outdoors in the store’s garden plot as participants discussed their reading experiences accumulated over one month.
The pandemic has encouraged the revival of book clubs since the outbreak of the health crisis. In group interactions, readers discuss poignant excerpts from challenging literary works, which makes these books more fulfilling to read.
The Bookshop Inc. established an alternative list to The New York Times’ ‘100 Best Books of the 21st Century’ last summer by extending their selections to global literature.
The store’s upcoming events for March will feature Pradip Krishen talking about Delhi’s wildflowers as well as Ruchir Joshi discussing his new novel Great Eastern Hotel. A book club focused on food writing will talk about Japan through Asako Yuzuki’s novel Butter and Michael Booth’s The Meaning of Rice.
A dedicated staff of two leads The Bookshop Inc.’s operations together with part-time interns who help them reinvent the definition of independent bookstores. The store exceeds its basic function as a bookstore through unique pleasures, meaningful dialogues, and strong bonds between book lovers.
Delhi, India, India
