Book Your Sundays Now

Published in The Times of India, November 10, 2006

Well, never judge a book by its… you know what. Applies to places too. One visit to Daryaganj book bazaar, and you’re possessed—book, line and sinker!

—AMIN AlI


Pesky sisters are completely avoidable on lazy Sunday mornings. But one ill-fated Sunday, the pestering transmuted into a refrain and I yielded, agreeing to accompany her to Sunday Book Bazaar at Daryaganj. On second thoughts, good. This is where you might just find Shakespeare’s Complete Works, leather-bound too, at an appalling tag of Rs 30 and, the priciest of software for less than what a glass of juice costs! I’d crossed this street often enough but never waded through the piles of books and magazines stretching to eternity.

DON OR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY?

There were enough distractions though. SRK seemed to fume at me for choosing books over Don. People jostling for books seemed in a mob-like frenzy. My sister pointed at the car parking opposite Delite cinema and I knew my Sunday morning was ruined.
The pavements, usually bustling with people waiting to get affidavits drafted, were full of bookstalls. The books caught first my eye and then my mind too. The first stall dispelled my doubts about the place selling merely age old tattered books. I heard two students asking for latest book on clinical psychology. To my surprise the vendor showed him five different editions. My sister was smirking by now.
A bespectacled guy beckoned me. He needed to choose from 20—yes twenty—books on biomechanics. Every vendor’s 10x8 sheet was reminiscent of a library shelf, only the mahogany was missing. We walked on.

COACH ME IF YOU CAN

We walked for about 30 minutes, from one pavement to another, haggling with shopkeepers without really intending to buy anything. When we reached Delhi Gate, the spiral-bound files sporting logos of leading coaching institutes just couldn’t be ignored. The prices depend on the package one opts for. Beats the prices at coaching centres hollow. A vendor agreed to sell me a six-month computer module for just Rs 240, about 2 per cent of what the institute offered it for.

FACT OR FICTION?

What’s a good book market without fiction? Thought at least I would challenge the market’s credibility as a book lover’s delight. But the market was bent on making me bite the dust. All eminent authors were there. Shakespeares, Nerudas, Dickens, Burns—all of them! Sensing my interest, the dealer asked if I wanted fiction or non-fiction. I was floored. I attempted a last throw of the dice. I asked for Marquez. He had six!
The next stall had brightly covered works of Premchand and Ghalib in heaps. Giving them company were Zauq and Dinkar. The covers looked like those Indian M&B’s sold at railway stations! Pick any for Rs 10. But, a colonial hangover was evident—foreign authors commanded Rs 20. I picked up Diwan-i-Ghalib and Premchand’s short stories for the price of two soft drinks. Cheers!
Walking, walking… as our legs went into anaerobic respiration and we hunted for a rickshawpuller, a voice loomed up: “I need the latest edition of Vogue.” I turned to see stalls full of fashion mags. Next to them were news and travel magazines. I selected 10 and, used to the low prices by now, paid him Rs 50 for the lot. I thought this a decent amount when my sister wanted the change back. Wonder of wonders, the vendor returned Rs 20. Time and Forbes for Rs 3!
But if you are a geek, you would not be disappointed either. You can haggle over the entire Microsoft Office suite for Rs 10—and trust me, they actually work! The Samurai and Marios come cheap too, shell out Rs 30 for these all-time favourite computer games.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Finally, we zeroed in on the vendor who had to give my sister her political theory books. As he acquired them—from where, who cares—we replenished our energy levels. Chhole bhature and fruit juice were available not too far, at a stall close to Golcha cinema.
The entire experience of being there, walking through the sinuous bazaar, rubbing shoulders with other book lovers and being part of the mad book rush was simply fascinating. One could have walked into any well-known library but found lesser variety of books. Don still screamed for my attention, but the ticket money had been well spent on Premchand, Ghalib, Time and Forbes! Sunday mornings can actually be quite interesting.

REMEMBER:

To look out for good buys in notepads, registers, office files, even small carry bags.

To bargain for the best deal. Cut the shopkeeper’s demand to half—to begin with!

News magazines and novels cost much less than fashion mags and coaching notes.

Minimise baggage. Carry a large bag to store purchases. Shopkeepers often don’t provide polybags.

Vendors don’t have catalogues; rummage the pile to look for the book of your choice.

Carry tenners, finding change might not be easy.