News
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Are we paying a terrible price for not reading books?* Readers more than welcome in old books’ Sunday Bazaar
KARACHI: For many denizens of Karachi, Sunday is more than just another day-off. The Sunday Book Market on a street near Regal Chowk, Saddar is a treasure trove for bibliophiles to cradle them in their hands like a porcelain vase is a fete for those who love to scavenge through a bit tawdrier variety of books. The book market has so much to offer to contemplate on and take in; the nearby Regal Chowk in Saddar which has witnessed students’ uprising against army dictators, castle-like old buildings which telltale how historical the place is, was established before the partition. The placid ambiance represents the epitome of the old city area of the now chaotic Karachi.
The market, which consists some 10-15 stalls, is set-up every Sunday by 12pm by vendors who have been into book selling business for quite a long time. Although reading culture in the country has somewhat faded away, the market keeps on running no matter how slim the business gets for the adamant vendors.
While it is rare that one doesn’t find the book he would have in his mind, the heaps of books also attract a legion of new customers, having seen the cover of a captivating title. Even if someone does not want to buy a book, paying a visit allows satisfying the curiosity within, as the books are available at such cheap rates. The books kept on stalls - and sometimes on the floor too - end up in the market coming through different sources; the major proportion being containers imported either from America or England. Then there is an all-known-process of purchasing books in bulk from scrappers who keep separating valuable stuff according to paper quality, and finally make these books reach their destination at Urdu Bazaar, Kohri Garden and Regal Chowk market among others. Some vendors also get ‘lucky’ and hit the jackpot when some old, bookish intellectual sells one’s home library before his/her offspring resorts to discarding it callously, and the precious book pages are used as nothing more than wrappers of ‘Pan’ and ‘Gutkaas’ sold at city kiosks. The sellers here are very well known to the people who visit the market at least once in a while to keep a check on the new assortment coming in. A tranquil, composed Abdul Aziz sits next to his offered collection on the surface with his back pushed against the wall. He has been into this business for more than 20 years. Underestimating his understanding of the world - perhaps due to his simple attire: dyed beard, and ‘topee’, cap worn by Muslims during prayers - will be reprimanded once he starts talking and latches on the ideas he has learnt through book reading. fawad hasan
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk