SARASWATI IS NOT FOR SALE

I woke up this (22 February 2018) morning to the shattering news of the STRAND BOOK STALL in Mumbai shutting down. Like me there are thousands of readers whose thriving dreams would come to an abrupt end; dreams of reading new books and browsing through thousands of new titles – hardbound or in paper back. Just a visit to the not too large, almost a “Hole in the Wall” bookstore on PM Road and to be greeted by the heady smell of countless freshly displayed titles on the crammed book-shelves and counters would make me happy. And once inside this magical atmosphere, time would simply fly and even after of 2/3 hours of simply browsing and picking up a title here and there, it would seem time was never enough.

Books were always affordable and in my 25 years and more with the Strand Book Stall as a buyer, I have lost count of how many books I have bought from them. Even when a particular title was not readily available, I put in a request, at times even over the phone from Kolkata, and in four to six weeks the book would arrive, I would get a prompt intimation and arrange to pick it up. All books were always sold at a substantial discount to the List Price and would apply to every buyer. Regularly, twice or more in a year SBS would organize a “Great Book Sale”. For book lovers and book buyers, those would be days of great fun and as enjoyable as a family picnic. Mr TN  Shanbhag – the owner, impeccably dressed as always, would greet customers / visitors with a warm handshake and would always remember to add a “Hello My friend!”  for me.

 I started buying books from the Strand, one or two at a time whenever I visited Mumbai. This started in early 1990s. Later on in the last 3 years of my career I was posted in Mumbai and three of my happiest memories there were the opportunity to visit the SBS regularly, watch football matches from the balcony of my apartment overlooking the Cooperage Stadium and later on the wonderful flamingos at Sewri Flats. Initially when I visited Mumbai on official work, my baggage restrictions would limit my book purchases. Later on my trips to Mumbai became rather frequent and my going further up the ladder meant I could then travel with a much larger baggage entitlement. While a carry on would normally suffice for trip lasting a couple of days, I would always also carry a suitcase, mostly empty, and return with the suitcase loaded with books from SBS. I also remember that at least on one occasion I had cajoled my boss in to scheduling a meeting in Mumbai on dates coinciding with the Great Book Sale!

My library at home grew quite substantial and almost all English books were acquired from the Strand.

My memories of Strand Book Stall are many but one requires special mention. In the early years of my purchases from the SBS, I was browsing through the huge collection of books and came through to a titled “Images of Bradman”. It was a large format book with many, many photos. Any cricket lover would want to possess a copy of the book.  My son was merely 7/8 years old then and always growing in his interest in cricket. I was very keen to buy the book for him. As I leafed through the pages of the book, Mr Shenvi , the store manager came over to check whether he could help. ( incidentally Mr Shenvi  later became a good friend ). I enquired about the price and was told it was around Rs 3000/- I did not have that kind of money on me then nor a credit card. Undeterred Shenvi recommended that I take the book anyway, go back to Kolkata and then remit the money due to SBS. Generous as the offer was, I was not too sure that I could then spend such kind of money on a book just to please and perhaps impress my son with! One part of me really wanted to acquire the book for the     ” Apple of my eyes”, while the other  flagged caution! I have always been known to  have a voice like a fog-horn and no matter  how softly I spoke, it could be heard quite distinctly by Mr T N Shanbhag standing a few feet away.  Mr Shanbhag – the owner of SBS – dressed impeccably as always was an oldish, pleasant looking , kindly man, came over and enquired what the fuss was about. Shenvi narrated that while I was very interested in buying the book I was claiming I did not have the money.

----- So, how much is the book? (TNS)

----- Rs 3000/- (Shenvi)

----- And Mr Niyogi, what is your problem? (TNS)

----- I just don’t have that kind of money to buy the book right now (RKN)

----- Okay, you browse around the shop, you might want to buy other books too,but please meet me before you leave. (TNS)

Some half an hour later, after buying a Tin Tin collection for my son, I was ready to leave the Book Store and met Mr Shanbhag as promised, to say goodbye.

----- Well Mr Niyogi, please don’t be in a hurry to leave just now, let me talk to you. Now what book was it that you found too expensive but really wanted to buy?

I showed him the Bradman book and he made some mental calculations and said “okay, this is Rs 3000/-; would Rs 700/- be too much?”

I was flabbergasted ! A book for Rs 3000/- , already heftily discounted, was now being offered for a mere Rs 700/- ! I did not know how to react. Mr Shanbhag saw my befuddled look and gently nudged me and insisted that I take the book – “ It would bring immense happiness to your son”. I was still hesitating and rather bluntly and perhaps quite stupidly asked him how it could be possible for him to part with a book costing Rs 3000/- at only Rs 700/-.Then came his famous answer that I’ll NEVER, NEVER  forget and perhaps, like me, many  other book lovers / buyers at the SBS would never forget - - “ Well, Mr Niyogi SARASWATI is NOT FOR SALE! Saraswati is NEVER for sale! I’d rather have your son and you read the book and bring enormous pleasures to your son and to you than make some extra money! Please can you pay Rs 700/-"  I was simply overwhelmed  and stood there transfixed. He gently nudged me again – “Do please take the book Sir! Please.”

Well that clinched the deal and for the rest of my life whenever I visited Mumbai I’d invariably drop in at the Strand Book Stall at least once and buy at least one book.  In the meantime, SBS had opened an outlet in Bangalore and when in Bangalore I’d visit the shop religiously. When not present in the SBS locations,  and I wanted a particular title, I’d call one of my old colleagues to buy the book from the Strand and courier it to me.

STRAND BOOK STALL

Some eight years back Mr Shanbhag passed away. I lost a friend, His daughter took over and ran the show ably. Now it seems it’s all over for the Strand.

I am shattered today and I know that on 27 February 2018 when the STRAND BOOK STALL ON P M ROAD, MUMBAI finally downs its shutters, a part of me will also shut down.

MR TN SHANBHAG AT ONE OF THE "GREAT BOOK SALE"S

(photographs downloaded from the internet)