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Bengaluru Bookstores Preserve Their Place in a Digital City
Bengaluru is a city known for technology, but many people there still love visiting bookshops.
Select Bookshop has been open for 81 years, and its owner helps people find books among its crowded shelves.
Other shops, such as Blossom and Bookworm, sell second-hand books and help readers discover hard-to-find titles.
Champaca chooses books carefully and features writing on subjects such as nature, science and feminism.
Bookshops are also holding talks and bringing readers together.
Some customers hear about books through social media, while others enjoy finding unexpected books in person.
When a flood damaged books at Bookworm, volunteers and customers came to help.
These shops offer a place to browse, talk and share a love of reading.
Select Bookshop, now run by third-generation proprietor K Sanjay, has operated in Bengaluru for 81 years.
Select and other shops have adapted to changing readers through social media, literary events and new book selections.
Champaca, opened by Radhika Timbadia in 2019, curates diverse books including feminist, anti-caste, translated, nature and science titles.
Blossom Book House and Bookworm are known for second-hand and rare books, personal guidance and community events.
After a May flood damaged books at Bookworm, volunteers and customers helped with cleanup and supported the shop.
- Who
- Independent Bengaluru bookstores and their proprietors, including K Sanjay, Radhika Timbadia, Mayi Gowda and Krishna Gowda.
- What
- The bookstores are adapting to changing reading habits while preserving in-person browsing, rare books and reader communities.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India, including areas around Brigade Road, Church Street and Queens Road.
- When
- Select has operated for 81 years; Champaca opened in 2019; Bookworm was flooded in May, with no year specified.
- Why
- To serve readers amid changing habits and a more digital city, while offering curated selections, rare books and community experiences.
Challenges
Independent bookstore strengths
Competing in a digital market
Challenges
Champaca's Radhika Timbadia says she cannot compete with large bookstores or Amazon.
Independent bookstore strengths
Timbadia says Champaca offers something different through carefully selected titles and a curated space.
Changing reading habits
Challenges
Select's K Sanjay says its customers' interests have shifted, with more recent demand for popular fiction and some philosophy.
Independent bookstore strengths
Bookshop owners describe social media recommendations, literary events and in-person discovery as ways to connect readers with books.
Key facts
- Select Bookshop
- Has operated for 81 years and is run by third-generation proprietor K Sanjay.
- Select location
- Moved to its current home off Brigade Road in 1984.
- Champaca
- Opened in 2019 and is run by Radhika Timbadia.
- Champaca's collection
- Includes anti-caste and feminist literature, translated works, and books on nature and science.
- Bookworm
- Has no online cataloguing system; staff use their knowledge of the shop and its stock to help customers.
- Bookworm flood
- A flood in May destroyed many books; volunteers helped clean up and customers bought surviving volumes.
- Blossom Book House
- Its collection is spread across three locations on Church Street.
Quotes
Radhika Timbadia
Founder of Champaca bookstore.
“Each of our titles is very carefully selected. There are things we care about that I think are showcased in the store. We have anti-caste and feminist literature, we have several translated works, and we pay attention to books on nature and science.”
indianexpress.com
“It was our passion for rare books which made our work lighter and encouraged us to work harder. When our customers say they finally found a book after decades, it’s a wonderful moment. Those moments motivate us.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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