Learn about the legacies of some of Mumbai's popular bookstores at a walk this weekend
Kitab Khana
ADVERTISEMENT
When was the last time you visited a bookstore and picked up a book? Or wandered in and sat down to read a bestseller, losing track of time? Online sales and e-books may have changed the way people consume stories, but there are some for whom a bookstore still is a cherished shrine. Some of the city's oldest and most popular bookstores are in south Mumbai, and this weekend, a walk hopes to introduce you to them.
The walk, titled Read Between the Lanes, has been created by local experiential travel company, Awestrich and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).
"INTACH conducts a lot of heritage walks, but this is the first time we have put together something for book lovers," says Veena Choudhary, architect and programme assistant at INTACH, who will be part of the walk. Choudhary is also a blogger at Meraki Post, a blog about books.
The aim of the walk is to introduce people to Fort's bookstores in close proximity, from the popular and newer Kitab Khana to the equally popular but homely People's Book House. "We feel these stores are part of our heritage but are losing their essence. We want to pay tribute to them," she adds. Participants will get to meet and talk to the owners of various bookstores to learn about the inspiration behind the stores, how they work, and how online bookstores have affected the way they function. In addition, they will get to check out the rare books at each place. "In the future, we intend to curate more walks, and conduct book readings for book lovers," says Choudhary.