Mumbai: Losses force iconic Strand Book Stall to shut down after 65 years

Strand book stall

In early March 2016, mid-day had reported that its oldest surviving bookstore Strand, was facing financial woes to the point that its famous annual sale had to be relocated from the usual Sunderbai Hall to a space beside the establishment. It sent panic signals among its loyal patrons, many of who have been visiting it for decades.

Yesterday, after a section of social media was abuzz with rumours of Strand's shuttering, amidst news that titles were on sale at half the price, we contacted Virkar for confirmation of the news. "It is true. We will be closing by February end, around the 27th, which also happens to be our father's death anniversary. My brother and I were very clear that we wanted to do it quietly, and with dignity as a mark of respect to him," she says. When we prod Virkar about the timing, especially since this year would have marked its 70th anniversary (the store opened in November 1948), she admits, "We gave it our 100 per cent, and looked at all angles. This is part of a trend that is sweeping across the globe. We engaged in countless calculations but at the end of the day, we weren't making a profit, and hence had to call it a day."

Bibliophiles will always be indebted to TN Shanbhag

While other bookstores and publishing units have diversified their business, Strand stood firm as a bookstore, and perhaps, that's what caused this closure, she rues. "We are not industrialists but passionate booksellers with high integrity." So, what happens to the staff, many of whom have been around for nearly five decades, we ask. "Most have retired. Sadly, we've had to let go of the others with adequate notice," she affirms. An industry insider reveals that it was only a matter of time before the iconic bookstore wound up. "The management didn't seem keen to carry on the business that Mr Shanbhag had created and nurtured till his last breath. A strong marketing plan could have saved it, for the reader, and most importantly, for Mumbai," he maintained.

Legacy lost
Virkar joined her father's business after her return from London in 1994. Soon, she shared her concerns with him about the need to diversify; "I felt it was the only way to safeguard as well as expose our treasures to more readers. Dad was reluctant initially, but eventually felt it would help. We opened a branch in Bengaluru, and introduced our popular book sales. But, as they say, 'Everything has a life cycle,' and this includes a bookstore."

What happens to the 70-year-old legacy? "Strand will always remain in the hearts of bibliophiles across this city and across India. Dad's contribution can never be forgotten. During this difficult time, I must thank and pay tribute to our readers who have raised Strand to its present stature," she shares.With its shuttering, Mumbai loses another bookstore. A shame this, considering that perhaps nowhere else in the metropolis did a 750-sq ft space pack in as many books as it did of memories and nostalgia.

Shanbhag's Rs 450-idea
In 1953, Padma Shri TN Shanbhag decided to give Mumbai's readers a gift - a bookstore that he set up with Rs 450. Originally housed as a kiosk at Colaba's Strand Cinema, it moved into its present address on Sir PM Road. A special connect binds Mumbai readers with this iconic landmark that stocks over a lakh titles ranging from classics to new-age mantras, fitness to Freud, across its two levels. From Pandit Nehru to Amitabh Bachchan, the Tatas, Birlas, Ambanis and the common man, Strand remains a great leveller for the discerning reader. During an earlier chat with PM Shenvi, Shanbhag's Man Friday, and one of its oldest employees, he recalled having seen it from its days when it was India's first bookstore to offer discounts and to also offer air-conditioning!

Memories of Strand
Strand will be remembered for its grace I first visited Strand Book Stall in 1985 to sell sports books. What struck me was the courtesy extended not only to customers, but sales representatives of various distributors as well. That I managed to sell a good number of new titles was not the most satisfying aspect of my first visit to 15-C, Dhannur Building, Sir PM Road. It was the willingness and interest displayed to flip through all the dust jackets that were then considered samples. That made me confident of selling more books on my next visit.

TN Shanbhag, the owner was always around - dressed in a suit, well groomed hair and invariably talking books with customers. "This is at a special price," was often part of his conversation and one could sense that he was very proud of the fact that he could manage to get books at a cheaper rate for his patrons. All this was possible due to Shanbhag's deals at the various book fairs he attended all over the world. His loyal workers (Shenvi, Mahale and Pravin are some who I remember) were fine men to deal with.

When it came to payments, there was no question of a reminder. The office would invariably receive a call from Strand informing you that a cheque was ready - well before the due date. In later years, I visited Stand Book Stall as a customer. The last book I bought there was, An Endangered Species by David Gower. Aptly, the author and bookshop will be remembered for their grace. - Clayton Murzello, Group Sports Editor, Mid-day

We need to respect the value of bookstores
The larger issue here is why bookstores should shut down. They are not normal retail shops. They define the culture of a place. They bring a balance in the thought process of a child. We need to respect the value that bookstores bring to the table. The biggest challenge that bookstores are facing is online discounts. While online stores offer convenience, there is romance in browsing through books at a store, where you go to buy one book and come out with five more. Because of this [shift in attitudes], new authors are not getting discovered. These subtle benefits cannot be ignored. The government needs to do something about this, probably offer tax breaks to bookstores. In France, there is a cap on discounts, where no one can sell books at more than five per cent off. It's not just Strand, Danai in Khar, which was a beautiful bookstore, also shut down. It is tragic. A society without books is a culture-less society. - Ravi Subramanian, author

Cozy space crammed with books
There was a certain coziness about Strand that I find missing in big bookstores. There's something very comforting about a space crammed with books that appears seemingly chaotic, but the helpful and attentive staff knew exactly where to find what, and always included a discount. - Janaki Viswanathan, TV script writer

1953
The year that Strand Book Stall was moved to its current address on Sir PM Road in Fort

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