The Daryaganj Sunday book market has been a haven for book lovers- young and old for decades. It is also a treasure trove for students, who can’t afford expensive reference books. For those with an eye for rare things, this is a pilgrimage spot. Hard-to-find books, magazines and journals can be bought here at throwaway price.
However, all this could be a thing of the past if news reports are to be believed. A national daily on January 13 reported that it’s very likely that weekly book bazaar would be shut. According to the report, book sellers haven’t been allowed to set up their shops for the last two weeks. This has resulted in uncertainty about their future.
The authorities have reportedly told the booksellers that it’s a temporary decision owing to the ongoing beautification drive in the run up to the three-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be held in Delhi, starting January 24. However, vendors fear that not all of them will be allowed to set shop after the work is over.
Hindustan Times quoted Ruchika Katyal, deputy commissioner, City-Sadar Paharganj Zone of North Municipal Corporation as saying:
“Residents and traders have been complaining about illegal occupation on footpaths. Their main concern was that the hawkers also take over portions of roads, which creates hindrance in traffic and pedestrian movement. Several illegal vendors had come up in the recent years.”
The report has left many book lovers in Delhi disheartened. Many took to Twitter to express their concern and even appealed to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to intervene.
The first lot of books and the best ones, that I bought in Delhi were from Daryaganj Book Bazaar. Cannot imagine how will this street look on Sundays if the bazaar is gone. CC: @ArvindKejriwal https://t.co/RhlRdP7Fge
— Rajesh Advani (@advanirajesh) January 14, 2018
Dear @ArvindKejriwal The Daryaganj book Bazar on Sundays, is part of the intangible cultural heritage of this city. One of the few things that lends credence to Delhi as a Centre of culture & civilisation. Please see to it that it continues to flourish https://t.co/LbTBePJLnX
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) January 13, 2018
You can get showrooms on Rajiv chowk anywhere else in the country or outside, but you will NOT get the Daryaganj book market anywhere. Preserve the uniqueness https://t.co/0cWtRtjDN5
— Gaurav Tiwari (@gauravvns) January 13, 2018
More than anything else, this market is the reason for my reading habit! Sad to hear this fate! https://t.co/ywY8F0Ksm3
— Ankur Jain (@ankurjain2001) January 13, 2018
This is brute!
Daryaganj book market is the heart and soul of the Delhi we grew up in. It is painful to just… https://t.co/DBKfAzG9b9
— Ayush Kaushik (@AKAyushKaushik) January 13, 2018
See! This the result of my Sunday excursions to Daryaganj’s secondhand book bazaar and now the barbaric authorities may close it for ever! pic.twitter.com/623CWBwrHM
— mayank austen soofi (@thedelhiwalla) January 13, 2018
It will be worse than pulling down temples or mosques! Our educated authorities may close Delhi’s fab Daryaganj Book Bazaar for ever! pic.twitter.com/vh4itVf7Lj
— mayank austen soofi (@thedelhiwalla) January 13, 2018
Is it curtains for Delhi’s Daryaganj book market? https://t.co/M3Rvm5ptwU via @htTweets
Nahiiiiiiii! This can’t be true!
— kaveri (@ikaveri) January 13, 2018
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