“Technology ruined everything for me,” laments 70-year-old Matunga bookstore's owner

Pandurang Bhalekar, a 63-year-old bookseller, can't help but express his frustration: "We hardly earn 1,000 rupees in a day despite having over 3,000 books in the store." The Book House, nestled in Matunga for seven decades, finds itself grappling with an amalgamation of technology's onslaught and the Covid-19 pandemic. This beloved establishment, which once welcomed luminaries like Shakuntala Devi, is now navigating through some of its most challenging days.

Bhalekar reminisces about the visits of renowned personalities to the store, emphasising its past allure. However, in stark contrast to its heyday, the store now struggles to attract even a handful of customers. "The store earlier used to attract a good amount of people. Most of them were college professors and students who used to buy literature books Now, having even five customers in a day has become a rare sight."

As part of the fortnightly "Shelf Life" series, this Mid-day online writer delves into the labyrinth of books that envelops The Book House to understand the factors underpinning its current plight.

Established in 1953, the store initially sold novels, magazines, and academic books, catering to college and school students alike. Though the ownership has transitioned over the years, it was originally owned by an individual named Shekar Shetty. The ownership was then transferred to the store's worker, Udya Verma who continues to hold the ownership of the store to date. Bhalekar says, "The owner hardly visits the store. Now, it is just me and my colleagues who run the store."

Bhalekar and his friend Shankar Kamble aged 58, joined the store in 1997 as employees. The 63-year-old is originally from Ratnagiri but proudly calls himself a Mumbaikar having lived in the city for the past 40 years. Back in the day, Bhalekar worked at Madras Cafe, a south Indian eatery in Matunga. He was hired on a monthly salary of Rs 150 to attend tables. During this time, he was offered a part-time job at this bookstore. He was assigned the duty of helping the owner shift books from his residence to the store for which he was paid 50 paise. This transitioned to Bhalekar becoming a full-time employee at the bookstore.

Since then, Bhalekar and Kamble have been depending on the bookstore for their living. The store procures books from traders who reach out to booksellers in different areas. However, Matunga's this store now limits its purchase to just 5 new books due to the scanty sales. Bhalekar says, "We have all the old books that no one buys. It is hard to maintain the quality for so many years. Most of the books are spoilt. We are left with no other choice but to throw away such books".

Every Sunday, Bhalekar and his fellow seller take out all the books to clean the spaces where the books are stored. They also dust the books and ensure they stay in good condition but to no avail. With the torrential rains that Mumbai witnessed in the past few days, many books ended up getting drenched as a result of water seepage in the store.

Covid-19 and its impact on the store
Bhalekar recalls the pandemic phase which was nothing less than a nightmare. After the lockdown was lifted, people hardly came down to the store to purchase books. It was only a few of their regular customers who came to check for new books.

Even after two years since the pandemic ended, nothing has got back on track for the store. Bhalekar says the sale of books has gone further down post-pandemic

Books available for cheap prices
At The Book House, one can simply get their hands on some rare classics that include novels by Agatha Christie, Jeffery Archer and Sidney Sheldon among others. The price of the books here starts at Rs 50 and goes up to Rs 200 depending on the size.

The store sees a handful of customers only during the weekends with only 2-3 customers during the week. Many demand second-hand copies of newly published books which the booksellers find challenging to procure on an immediate basis. Bhalekar says, "There are many who also ask us to hunt for various books from the stock we have and in spite of making them available for the customers, they return without buying even a single copy It is very disheartening."

According to Bhalekar's observation, people today are mostly interested to read psychological and self-help books. Speaking about Indian authors, he says, "The popularity of Indian authors has gone down. Hardly anyone likes to read their books. Youngsters were mainly interested to read books like Five Point Someone, Half Girlfriend and Two States which were newly published."

On the bright side, the bookseller speaks of parents buying books for their school-going children. "Sometimes, we sell over 8-10 academic books and other children's books like Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle, in a day. The maximum number of books we succeed in selling is 12."

Technology, the biggest enemy
"Mobile phones and ebooks have ruined everything for us," says Bhalekar. He blames electronic gadgets like smartphones, ebooks and tabs for their loss. He goes on to say, "People are now hooked to screens for everything. This has negatively affected not just us but many whose business has been foiled due to technology. People no longer feel the need to buy books because everything is available on their phones."

A bookseller of a small bookstore ended up shedding light on a larger issue that people are facing globally. He says, "Technology is leading to loss of jobs. Earlier, one big bookstore was a source of living for at least 5 people. Now due to technology, booksellers like us are finding it difficult to even survive."

The way forward
As "The Book House" grapples with uncertain prospects, Bhalekar acknowledges the uphill battle. The store's future remains uncertain, with Bhalekar recognizing that only those with a genuine passion for books will be willing to undertake the responsibility of keeping the store alive. Age and the daunting task of maintaining the store's vast collection further compound the predicament.

Bhalekar admits, "It is not like we didn't think of shutting the store, but we are not suited for anything else. Besides, we are ageing now. Who is going to hire us?" The only exception, Bhalekar says, is if someone employs us as a helper.

Despite the adversity, Bhalekar and Kamble's dedication shines through. Their warm smiles and assistance to customers reflect a deep love for the store and its legacy. As the Mid-day writer departs, the booksellers bid her farewell, grateful for even a modest sale of three books.

Also Read: Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to conduct masterclass at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai on August 18