Bibliophiles are glad that the Daryaganj book market is up and running again

Much to the delight of book lovers, the Sunday book market has made a comeback after a two-month hiatus.
The Delhi Gate Metro Station was quite abuzz for a Sunday morning. It was barely 9am, a couple of hours before the nearby markets would open and customers would start coming in, still, the Metro station was crowded, with most people carrying bags and large suitcases.“Book market dobara khula hai na aaj, ussi ki bheed hai,” a guard at the station told us.
For 50 years, the Daryaganj Sunday book market had been a constant presence on the pavements between Delite and Golcha cinemas in the Walled City, before it was shut down in July. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) had objected to the weekly markets in the area creating traffic mess and encroaching upon the streets. As a result, the Delhi High Court ordered all of them to be shut. To Delhi’s delight, however, the market returned this Sunday after a two-month hiatus just across the road from its original location, at the NDMC Mahila Haat, after the corporation offered them this space.
More than half of the sellers from the original market came to the Mahila Haat on Sunday despite the rain threatening to ruin the market’s grand reopening. However, a section of booksellers protested at the Delhi Gate Metro Station, saying they wanted to return to the original location, and arguing that the representatives who entered into the agreement with the NDMC were no longer office bearers in the association. They said that the agreement was invalid and as a result, the sellers could lose rights to space in the market.
Qamar Saeed, President of the Sunday Book Bazaar Patri Welfare Association, said, “I think it is unfortunate that some people are still protesting. The Mahila Haat is a nice place. It is away from the dust and noise of the streets, and has enough room for all sellers. Gradually, as people get to know about the place, the footfall will increase, too.”

Some sellers had a problem with the location as well. The early morning rain had left puddles in the haat, which meant that keeping books on the ground was a problem. Gulab Singh, a vendor, said, “The pavement was half covered, we were partly protected even when it rained or it was cold. Here, everything is in the open, so rain can ruin the market. Even today, many spaces have puddles. Wahan books kaise lagayein?”
Many sellers said that they were positively surprised at the turnout on Sunday. Satish, who has been selling books at the market for a decade, said, “Pichhle location ke comparison mein kam crowd hai aaj, but jitna expect kiya tha uss se toh double hai. Pehle Sunday hi aisa crowd hai toh lagta hai ki 2-4 weeks mein sab normal ho jayega.”
For the visitors, the fact that the market is back was a joy in itself. Nandini Singh, an East Delhi resident, told us, “I have been a regular at this market for 17 years now, and I was heartbroken when it shut down. I am glad it is up and running again.” The market has been a favourite with the younger crowd, particularly students, who look for course books at bargain rates here. Neelim Arora, a medical student shopping for some course books, told us, “My friends and I have come to this market for years to buy medical books at cheaper rates. After its closure in July, we were a little worried that we’d have to shell out more money for our books. Waise bhi medical mein itni books leni hoti hain ki agar paise zyada dene padein toh budget bigad jaata hai.”