A walk around Matunga is delightful for more than one reason. Be it the South Indian eateries dishing out amazing snacks, meals and filter coffee or the well laid out roads and quaint 3 storey buildings. To add to its charm, there exists a band of bookstores that operate on the pavements near King’s Circle. There are old classics, comics that went out of circulation, first editions of bestselling books and the list can never be complete as each time we encounter something new.
A few months ago, I was looking to buy a copy of Walden written by Henry David Thoreau. I avoid buying new copies of books published a few years ago, so I trooped over to King’s Circle and enquired with a few booksellers. None seem to know about it until I came to Afzal’s stall. When I asked for Walden, he said “Thoreau?”
“Yes”
“Oh I don’t have it right now, but I have it in my godown in Chembur I think”
“Great! Can you get it for me?”
“Sure, give me your number I will text you if it is available”
A godown, wow, I thought to myself. That meant he could have a treasure of books! I asked if he remembered what other books he had.
“I have over 3000 books, but I have a list of them. It is not updated recently but most of the books I have are on it. I can email it to you”
“Great, I’ll text you my email address?”
“Sure”
And sure enough that night I received an email from Afzal. He had attached a few spreadsheets and the next morning got a text that simply said – Walden (HB) available, Rs. 120. I soon picked it up, I am halfway through and I highly recommend it.
On our every Matunga walk, we make a stop at Afzal’s stall and he shares his story with us, because after all neighbourhoods are built by the people who live and work there. An erstwhile journalist, a book lover, a well spoken and a polite gentleman, Afzal belongs to a rare breed of booksellers. If you are around Matunga, you must make a stop at his stall. He operates on the pavement across Health Juice Centre (close to Mysore Concerns).
I have been sharing this booklist with everyone who has asked for it but now it is available here. Classified as per genre, it is one of the best efforts by a second hand bookseller. Simply view the list, search for what you need and ring him up on 9967960583 or email him on afalam_60@yahoo.co.in.
For the book list: Click here.
Photo courtesy: Mohini Bhavsar and Biswajit Dey
Also meet The Superman of King’s Circle.
Update:
My friend Jayshree whose poetry I admire, wrote this for Afzal, after reading the post.
He hawks Hard backs and paperbacks
And stuffs my backpack
With traveller’ s tales
In tongues from here and there and across the world
I leaf through them
And wander around
As dreams and reality hold their sway
Wonder if the hands that
Pass them to me
Do they caress and kiss
And gently flip
Or are they just witnesses mute to
a bartered tale
Of coins and notes
And a routine exchange
Backpack Wanderings 