Daryaganj: An open sky library

Rambled across the busy lanes of Old Delhi, in Daryaganj, everything flips on a Sunday morning which brings an exquisite charm to the small area. In the long road between Delite Cinema and Jama Masjid bridge, scores of shopkeepers ply their trade. Everywhere you look, you see books spread across the entire crowded street. 

Hundreds of school and college students, knowledge enthusiasts, intellectuals as well as casual bookworms rush to the market early in the morning. 

The best time to reach here is around 10 am as most of the shops start their trade from this stipulated time. This market is said to be one of the oldest book markets in the world and was started in the year 1964 with only 10-15 shops at its disposal, which has since swelled up to 250-300. Ninety per cent of the books available here are second-hand with plenty of novels, magazines, newspapers, guides, quiz books, classics, encyclopedias and entrance exam preparatory materials on offer.

There are possibilities of finding books which may not be available in regular book stalls due to their rarity. “Students flock the market because books available here are quite cheap and are also easily available,” says a satisfied buyer. 

The place is a heaven for those who are tired of buying over priced books. Given the correct bargaining skills, a person can bring down the price of a book to as low as 10 per cent of its original price. “When the books become old, the publishers sell them to us at a very low price. The scrap dealers are also another source from where we get these books,” said, Kamar Syeed, the president of the Sunday Book Bazaar Welfare Association. The market is a big hit with locals as well as foreigners who are attracted by wide repertoire on offer. 

The market is definitely a spellbinding place for people, who not only love to read but who also love to collect books and literary works.