Back in 2020 it all started. During the lockdown, there was Mahabharata which was telecasted on television everyday. It did keep lots of spirits high amidst all the gloom. It also gave me a thought process. To read BhagavadGita and to purchase a particular version, a hard copy comprising of three volumes written by Swami Ranganathananda.
I did purchase it and started reading it alas, I just moved to a different book altogether rendering my reading incomplete, much to my own guilt and shame.
I till date have not completed reading even a single 'Adhyaya'. But I will definitely.
Around that time, I got a bit more active on instagram and came to know about the book 'Remnants of Separation' and was very curious about it. It was about the partition and I thought, why not just read it as I found it very interesting. I was about to purchase it for the kindle, but then, something struck my mind.
My kindle reading pursuits have been very unfruitful, buying and leaving books unread and then ditching the reading process altogether. I needed a more stricter regime, plus, alongside I thought, a book like 'Remnants' could never be done justice via an online copy or via kindle. It had to be read in a physical form, let alone be read, I saw it more as a jewel in a bookshelf. This turned my attention to buying books.
I knew books are expensive when brought new, but then, with-holding myself all these years, I turned to buying used books. I realized Blossoms in Bangalore sells new as well as pre-loved ones'. That got me into buying books. Something which started as a hesitant hobby and now just took off beyond my own imagination.
Hesitant hobby because, buying books for me happens to be an activity very close to my heart, just like buying stationery. I simply cannot stop it once I start it. I feel I do have a life long obsession towards having books having a book shelf, much to my own embarrassment of claiming, not having read many of the owned ones.
All these years, I kept accumulating books on kindle. But never read with much force so as to complete more than 10 books a year. Now, since my buying increased I had to up the tempo on reading too.
I realized if I could post a review on instagram and track status on goodreads, I could keep myself more disciplined on track to complete more books. And yes, it has worked out well, I do read more these days. I buy more than I can read, but then, do I have any complaints? None as such.
In the middle there was one phase where I just became greedy for free books, yes, free books. Books which are new are given away to instagram influencers in return for an honest review. And honest review doesn't necessarily translate to negative review. No publisher wants a negative review.
But the catch was, you got to have more followers. My followers on instagram are and were less than 70, so my chance of winning free books went in smoke pretty quickly. The bubble of my greediness burst when an author declined to give me any books in giveaway. It took me multiple attempts to come out of the hangover of free books.
Until one day a kind man on instagram who identifies as God Father of books, introduced me to the noble book sellers of Bombay and Delhi and a special group for buying/selling books. What kicked off a frenzy buying hasn't stopped till date and I am overly indebted to him for the endless supplies of affordable books.
I have since known many sellers from Bombay namely Dhirajji, Pandeyji, Afzalji, Navinji and many more. Daryaganj, Mahila ki Haat and College Street have become easily accessbile and buying books has never been that affordable. I am no longer a regular at Blossoms but someday, I will be back at Blossoms.
Until then,
Cheers,
