29 May,2011 11:32 AM IST | | Lhendup G Bhutia
Vashi's 15 year-old Santosh & Dinesh Books is a library that runs without a membership fee and due date. Just pay Rs 100 for a book, and get Rs 75 back when -- and if -- you return it
As a child, Santosh Jairam Babar saw his grandfather and father travel from door to door, collecting books to sell on the footpath opposite Flora Fountain. At 20, Babbar started a bookstall in Vashi with his 15 year-old cousin Dinesh Chavan. This stall worked on a different principle -- it was a library. Located opposite the iconic Udipi joint Navratna, Santosh & Dinesh Books is now 15 years old, and Navi Mumbai residents continue to throng the place for their fix of Chetan Bhagat and Ayn Rand.
How is your bookstall different from others?
Firstly, mine is a library, without membership fees and formalities. Secondly, there is no time limit on book return. All you need to do is pay Rs 100 for a book. You can keep it if you want, or you return it and get Rs 75 back. We keep Rs 25 as reading charges. The problem with most libraries is that apart from complicated membership requirements, they have a time limit on the return of books. People nowadays, don't get much time to read. So libraries with rules restrict more than offer the freedom to read.
How many books and members do you have?
Given the nature of our library, we don't keep records of members, but we must have around 1,000 people. In all, we have 2,000 books, and most of them are out for reading.
How do you procure your books?
When we first started off, my father offered me most of his collection. We also took copies from kabadiwalas. Now people sell books to us. Also, if there are any new books that people want, they place an order and we acquire them. We sell these books at a little less than the MRP.
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Do you read your own books?
Apart from reading, I also try to gather as much information possible so I can recommend books. The most popular books in my stall are those written by Chetan Bhagat. And I don't know why this is so.
My favourite book though, is The Fountainhead. I read somewhere that it was Sanjay Dutt's favourite book too, that's why I picked it up. When I read it, I was blown away.
Opposite Navratna Hotel, Nirman Vyapar Kendra, Sector 17, Vashi; Open from 10 am to 11 pm
