MUMBAI
With several iconic spots shutting shop in the city, Mumbaikars mourn the loss and believe development shouldn’t come at the cost of heritage
Yet another city marker is in its last days. Strand Book Stall opened as a kiosk in Strand Cinema on November 20, 1948 before moving to its present place in Fort. The iconic book shop’s last day is February 28.
It became a landmark over the years, giving the city an “enlightened” readership at discounted price besides giving readers the option to browse books. It had patrons like former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, JRD Tata, former president APJ Abdul Kalam among others.
Strand, however, is not the only marker of the city to have shut shop in recent times. Others like Samovar, Bastani bakery and Rhythm House, that once served the city as popular hangout places, where one could spot celebrities, go to place for breakfast and pilgrimage spot for music lovers where at times legends could be seen signing autographs, have all closed. They were not just around for decades but also found a mention in tourist itineraries from across the world.
Mumbaikars tell DNA whether they think the city is slowly losing its cultural markers.
The iconic eateries and book stalls of Mumbai are shutting down. The new generation has been completely unaware of the iconic places in Mumbai. It is this age in which it is important for both online and offline marketing and awareness. The new age era is taking away the old age era which is alarming.
—Madhu Daswani, Bandra
The shutting down of Strand is indicative of the changing face of the city. With malls and plush towers coming up, we are losing such iconic spaces leading to an erasure of the city’s rich history. Efforts need to be made to ensure such spaces are conserved both by the government and through public support.
—Rajesh Patole, Kalina
I was born and brought up in cities like Parbhani and Aurangabad which are considered deprived not just of basic development but also vibrant cultural centres. Mumbai’s cultural vibrancy attracted me. Samovar restaurant, Rhythm House, and Strand Bookstore were the triumvirate that satiated this cultural hunger. In cities like Budapest, Prague and Vienna, traditional book stores still thrive. E-books did not affect them. I feel helpless that we can not stand by Strand to help it survive. It is like personal loss for each of us.
—Anjali Ambekar, Thane
Strand book stall has always been an important identity for the fast-paced city not just for my generation but also my dad’s. According to me, Strand was going through a slow death and it was quite visible. Whenever I had to meet a friend in south Mumbai, we always had a fixed common point. Wonder what we would call it after February 28. This is the deal with development. You have to leave certain things behind painfully. With Strand gone, Mumbai will definitely lose one of its iconic landmarks in its history.
—Deepa Nandi, Bandra
Few years ago Mumbai lost its music when Rhythm House closed down. Now Strand too is closing. One more cultural landmark gone. Exploring strand for a specific book or finding a favourite cassette/CD in Rhythm House was pure joy. These have been cultural icons for generations.
—Rahul Chemburkar, Chembur
Mumbai is losing its heart. People are acting as if they are clearing old furniture which has most emotions attached just because they want to redo their decor. No doubt they don’t yield a good profit to the owners but they should have found some alternative to keep the emotional part of the city intact and also would have helped them earn profit. The city’s roots were suddenly cut off and I am deeply saddened by it. Strand used to think about its readers and also used to import a lot of books just for reader’s interest.
—Vidya Kasle, Dadar
It is a sad thing that Mumbai’s most iconic identity markers are dying. They were termed as the grace and leisure of this city. Today, the city has no time for such small and intimate things which once upon a time ruled the roost.
Around the world bookstores are shutting down because people prefer to read online. The business is ailing as the cultural landscape has undergone a major change. Thus, there is an urgent need to transform with the changing times.
—Shweta Shertukde, Kandivali
Change is the only constant. Before these structures became a part of Mumbai’s history there was something else. I just hope a book store shutting is not replaced by a pub or restaurant. We should take care of the heritage buildings in the city that remind the future generation about the past.
—Rangeet Koli, Worli
My first and formidable editor was Sham Lal from the late ‘60s. After having his lunch in his room at work, he would walk down to Strand where Mr Shanbhag would have kept books aside for him. The wall of his house in Delhi, where he retired, was lined with books mainly brought from Strand. Shanbhag was as much an institution as Strand itself. It had the most obscure of books and helped people develop a passion for reading. It’s going has partly to do with changing reading habits.
—Darryl D’Monte, senior journalist
Samovar, Rhythm House and now Strand are where one would meet people who have contributed to society. The charm of these places was in the fact that they did not become modern or corporate. I had built a personal relationship with these people. I would just ring and ask for a book and it would be delivered. If not available, it would be sourced. The desire to give a book to someone showed in their effort. There was love for people who read.
—Dolly Thakore, theatre personality
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