The books are old, so is the business

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An entire footpath stretching from Bishop Pereira Hall near Nandavanam police camp to State Central Library has been in the itinerary of serious readers for quite long.Thanks to the rows of stalls selling second-hand books. But very few know that the book vendors are the second generation in the business and mostly neighbours, with all of them hailing from Nemom and Karakkamandapam in the outskirts of the city.The book-selling business started along with scrap sales some three decades back, says A Ashraf, whose father was one of the early people who took to the idea of the sales.“At that time, it was journals and magazines.There was not much scope for serious reading materials,” recollects Ashraf.He was then a matriculation student.His father still clings to the scrap business at Palakkad, occasionally contributing to Ashraf’s collection of books, which now weighs more than two tonnes.Currently, 34 stalls owned by people, rather relatives, from New Karakkamandapam, Old Karakkamandapam and Nemom are operating in the city.With books of all genres, ranging from children’s story books to medical encyclopedia stacked in the stalls, they are frequented by readers of all ages.S Udayan, who graduated from University College two decades ago, has been a regular customer since then.“Most of the books are pre-used. So the price is negotiable and affordable,” he says in the midst of a bargaining exercise on ‘Basics of Yoga’.Unlike their precedents, the present vendors are young and at least SSLC passed.But there are quite a few who did not have the chance to go to school.“But we know about the latest trends in literature and also the taste of the readers,” chips in Ashraf.In a stall at the far end of the footpath, a man was seen surrounded by a group of young girls, probably from a nearby college.They were looking for old issues of a Malayalam women’s magazine.The shop owner had a piece of advice for them.“Read something more useful,” he could be heard saying, pointing to the works of Orhan Pamuk stacked in front of the shop.Another vendor told us that the man was purely illiterate.Being in constant company of books, most of the vendors have turned to reading too.Ashraf is fond of reading religious books, while another vendor Najumudeen cherishes Malayalam novels.“I stick to Malayalam novels.Once or twice, I tried to foray into English literature, but left it midway as I couldn’t make out the meanings.But now I can read with ease,” says Nujumudeen with a rare confidence.As the twilight gave way to a thick blanket of darkness, the vendors began to cover their books with tarpaulin.After closing the days’ business, they gathered around, cracking jokes and pulling each others’ legs. After all, it is a family business.