After 5 months, Delhi's Daryaganj book bazaar to be back in business in a sanitised avatar

NEW DELHI: After lying shut for more than five months, the iconic Sunday book bazaar will be back in business next weekend. The entire market will be sanitised before it reopens on Sunday and vendors have been asked to maintain social distancing.
The market, which was relocated to Mahila Haat in September last year, is one of the seven weekly markets that have been allowed to open on a trial basis in City-Sadar Paharganj zone, said Ira Singhal, head of information department of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Another senior civic official added that 130-150 vendors would be allowed to set up their stalls.
Asharfilal Verma (61), vicepresident of Daryaganj Sunday Book Bazaar Patri Welfare Association, said that the 50-year-old market had never been shut for such a long period of time. “I have been selling books for over 22 years. This has been one of the toughest times for all of us book sellers, but we will work hard to make up for it. Bibliophiles will definitely return,” Verma added.
The iconic Daryaganj Sunday book bazaar has been shut since March 8. Mahila Haat is located next to the Shehani banquet hall.
Book traders say that the period of change in the academic year used to be their main selling period and they have been wrecked financially. “Competitive exam books and academic books constitute bulk of sale. April to June is the key period for booksellers,” Verma claimed.
Kamar Saeed, president of the book bazaar welfare association, said that while there are 276 book sellers in the association, only 150-odd vendors come to set up stalls since the relocation last year.
The shifting of the book bazaar from cramped Daryaganj to an open and clean Mahila Haat now may turn out to be in its favour in the Covid era. “Only educated people and students come to buy books and it will be easier to maintain social distancing at Mahila Haat. Entry can be regulated and we can ensure that only masked consumers enter,” he added.
Saeed said that many booksellers need loans to restart their business. “Municipal officials have assured us that they will enrol the registered vendors in the central government’s scheme,” he added.
Till July last year, the muchloved Sunday book market was being held between Delite Cinema and Golcha Cinema. The decision for shifting the weekly book market came after the Delhi traffic police submitted a report saying that the book sellers occupied the footpath, leaving no space for pedestrians on the busy road.