Archive · 17 Aug 2025
How a Marriage in 1955 Led to Delhi's Iconic Bookstore
This is a story about how a couple's love created a famous bookstore in Delhi.
Balraj and Bhag met in a refugee camp after they had to leave their homes.
Balraj started a small bookstore in 1953 with help from his mother and the money that he borrowed.
They got married in 1955.
Bhag helped at the shop during her lunch breaks, and later in 1977, she began working there full-time.
Together, they grew the bookstore, Bahrisons, into a well-known place where people loved to read.
Their business, Bahrisons, wasn't just a shop, it was a testament to their lifelong love.
Balraj Bahri opened a bookstore in Delhi's Khan Market in 1953, after meeting his future wife, Bhag, in a refugee camp.
Balraj and Bhag married in 1955, and their partnership led to the founding of Bahrisons bookstore.
Bhag worked at the Ministry of Rehabilitation initially but later joined Balraj full-time at the store in 1977.
The bookstore expanded over the years, becoming a welcoming space and community hub for readers.
The couple's love story and dedication to their business defined Bahrisons' legacy.
- Who
- Balraj Bahri and Bhag Gulyani, a couple who met in a refugee camp.
- What
- The founding of Bahrisons bookstore in Delhi, India.
- When
- The bookstore's foundation began in 1953, and the couple married in 1955, and the bookstore continued to grow over the years.
- Where
- Delhi, India.
- Why
- To provide a living and build a community around books, driven by their love and resilience.
- Bookstore Name
- Bahrisons
- Founded by
- Balraj Bahri
- Founded in
- 1953
- Location
- Delhi, India
- Couple
- Balraj Bahri and Bhag Gulyani
- Marriage
- 1955