Tribute to pavement booksellers

I have always suggested that one should buy books from pavement vendors. They sell second hand books as also books that are photocopies of popular, bestsellers. It is always a good bargain. I hold the view that once the books are sold enough it can be photo stated, the authors have already got the money and the publishers shouldn’t be allowed to make too much money from what is not because of their talent. Some of these suckers have made more than enough money. Most market driven publishing firms (at least the one’s that have shops in India) don’t even have any literary sensibilities, so yes they should be allowed to make what is due but beyond that it needs to go to the guys at the pavement. In many cases these people on the streets have been selling books for decades and have much knowledge about literary merit of a book or author. This blogger has mostly bought books from the pavements or second hand shacks whether in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai Kolkota….you name it!!. Many of these sellers (particularly the old timers) have astounding knowledge of books. I recall distinctly the man at Nehru Place pavement in Delhi who also dabbled in portrait sketching to pass time. I used to take his suggestions seriously. Poor fellow many a times had to pack and vanish because of ‘municipality walleh’.

Buying new books nowadays is an investment, most costing not less than 300 odd rupees (they are now in dollars and pounds!!). So I have to be convinced before I venture. In last two years or so I have bought only two odds books from bookstalls one was very recent (The Islamist-500 odd Rs is quite costly!!) another was on Horse racing the one I just couldn’t get from pavement despite some frantic search. Next would be Naipaul as and when it is out, one may not agree with some of his views but he is brilliant, and makes me think (even in the areas one may not agree there is an element… some disturbing hints of truth), that is an incentive enough to buy.

Actually I am quite ambivalent when shelling out money for new books, for some precious moments I do entertain the idea of putting the money on horse!! (the reason probably I haven’t bought too many new books recently!!. Further reading on the Net is absolutely fantastic). Putting it on winner Colt or Filly is not a bad idea, though!

This blogger strongly suggests readers to buy books from pavements, it is cheap, you can bargain and yes you may end up stumbling upon something rare!. Long live second hand book sellers!!

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