TK Somaiya and fellow karyakarta (co-worker) associated with the Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal, saw how there were many people watching Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ as soon as it released in 1982. Working with the organisation that was continuing the legacy of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, popularly known as an Indian advocate of non-violence and human rights, and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi, they decided to start selling books on Gandhi outside Regal theatre in Churchgate.

At the time, Somaiya, heavily inspired by Bhave’s work in his early 40s, had already been working with the mandal to learn more about their work, after giving up his job as an engineer with Larsen & Toubro. Even today after all these years, the 86-year-old Mumbaikar is as passionate about the work they do as he was more than four decades ago.

In the week leading up to the 76th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, apart from its bookshop Gandhi Book Centre, they also put up a stall at Flora Fountain. Together, they earned Rs 2.25 lakh in just six days from selling books on him across the two locations. According to the Annual Report of the Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal, they sold books worth Rs 22 lakh in 2022 – 23, showcasing the popularity of Gandhi and his teachings.

Today, the physical bookshop boasts of as many as 300 titles on Mahatma Gandhi and more on Vinoba Bhave in stock that goes into many thousands. The staff of four people is also busy sending books by post as many people place their orders online from different parts of the city and country. However, people can read books on Gandhi for free through e-books that are regularly uploaded on the website mkgandhi.org. Their WhatsApp group takes it a step further as they send out popular quotes by Mahatma Gandhi every morning hoping to help people start their day positively.

Since 2007, they have also been trying to inspire prisoners to read the works of Gandhi in the prisons across Maharashtra by regularly conducting sessions and even giving them free access to books about him. They also conduct the ‘Gandhi Peace Exam’ every few months after they have done these sessions at many of the jails including Byculla jail, Thane Central Jail near us and even in Nagpur. Beyond the prisoners, they regularly conduct the exam for school students in the city to help them learn more about Mahatma Gandhi from a young age, and hope to carry forward the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi through the bookshop.