Bahrisons: Chronicle of a Bookshop

by Anuj Bahri, Debbie Smith

This biography of an independent bookseller working in Dehli, India chronicles his varied experiences, from his life as the son of Pakistani landowners with no literary background to his success as an entrepreneur in the Indian world of books.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bahirsons: Chronicle of a Bookshop by Anuj Bahri and Debbie Smith

This is perhaps the first and only book of its type that chronicles the life and times of a bookseller in India. Bahirsons, the most recognised book shop in Delhi and located in the most expensive retail space in South Asia (Khan market) was established by Balraj Bahri Malhotra in 1953. Like most iconic book sellers in India, he too was a refugee. Over the years the shop has grown and today most book lovers would have visited this legendary institution at least once. The novel is an ode to this gusty bookseller who had the vision and courage to take a path few would have ventured into, in the aftermath of the partition.

[Karn Satyarthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Rusha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Balraj did what we all wanted to do
1. Marry the girl of your dreams
2. Open a bookstore

[Riya Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a book describing how my favourite bookshop came to be and the people behind it filled me to the brim with comfort.
Do not be deceived, as this is more than just the going ons of an independent bookshop. It is also about people and how lives were affected during the partition between India and Pakistan. Depicting the brutal reality of the times then and how refugees were to survive, a heart-wrenching tale of morals, courage, love and perseverance.
Bahrisons books has been and always will be a huge part of my life. I couldn’t thank the authors enough for writing this.

[Sohail Nijas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up from Bahrisons after reading Anchal Malhotra's Remnants of a Separation, may have enjoyed it more the other way around. Good still, but misses Aanchal's lyricism.

[Divya Mangotra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bahrisons Booksellers has always been one of my favorite bookstores—so much so that I find myself visiting them almost every other weekend. So, when I stumbled upon Chronicle of a Bookshop, I knew it would be an immediate purchase.

This book offers a fascinating account of the 71-year-old iconic bookstore, beloved by millions of readers. The story delves into the lives of its founders, Mr. Balraj Bahri Malhotra and Mrs. Bhag Guliani, two refugees whose lives were irrevocably changed by the Partition of India. Their journey is one of resilience and determination as they navigate hardships and upheaval, ultimately establishing Bahrisons Booksellers. The narrative offers not just a personal story, but a window into the immense effort that goes into building and maintaining a bookstore—especially in an age where e-books and online giants dominate the retail landscape.

Some interesting facts I learned from the book:
1. Bahrisons has an impressive stock of 80,000–90,000 books at any given time, and their staff is so well-trained that they can recall the availability of titles from muscle memory alone.
2. The Bahrisons store at Khan Market is actually a combination of three separate shops, a testament to its growth and expansion over the years.
3. The bookstore has expanded beyond its flagship location and now has multiple stores across India (Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Chandigarh, and Indore).


I highly recommend Chronicle of a Bookshop to anyone who has ever wondered about the story behind one of India’s most cherished bookstores.

[Ipsita Saikia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was my first visit to the bookstore, at Khan Market when I saw this book on the billing counter. I bought it out of curiosity when I was billing my other books because I was really intrigued to know the story behind the bookstore. It was really insightful and emotional on how the bookstore came to be, from the life of the people before Partition, Partition, after moving to India, establishing a family and the transition to current times. I enjoyed the story of Bahrisons Bookstore and really wished for turning back time and knowing Baldev uncle and getting a book suggested by him. Looking forward to my next visit the store and exploring all sections. :)

[Nikhil Kamath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spent the last couple of days with this beautifully documented story of the institution that is Bahrisons Booksellers ✨✨

I have been a regular visitor to the shop since my college days and with time my visits have only increased. To read about how and where it all began, was an experience in itself. The story is told in such a descriptive way that as a reader you feel like it is your journey too!!

Reading Chronicle of a Bookshop has only made me love the bookshop even more!!

[Rama Bhandare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on my maiden visit to Delhi’s khan market earlier this year and this bookshop appealed to the reader in me. I was unaware of its place in Delhi’s literary history but reading the chronicles of a book shop provided great insights into this famous bookshop akin to an institution in itself.

I hope the physical books never go out of use and May there be more such bookshop’s like Baharisons to guide the readers to discovering amazing titles and books.

[Nidhi Pathak · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Literary nourishment is as important as any other, perhaps even more so, for its quietude and intimacy, it awakens and enriches the mind, allows us to travel without ever leaving home, and makes us empathetic and imaginative, curious and aware.”

[Punyaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Ruhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bahri is home.

[Shweta Rai · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book , little did I know that this would be a story of such resilience . My love for the bookstore has grown manifolds after this .

[breadpitt]

guess where I got this book from?

[Khadija · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m glad this book exists and it found its way to me (special thanks to Ms. Rajni).

If I could go back in time I’d like to meet young Bhag and Balraj and tell them that their small book shop will stand strong even after 70 years and that they are both alive in memories and bookshelves.

[Varun Bhakay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Technically a second edition of the 2004 book on the iconic Khan Market bookshop and its founder, the narrative is expanded to delve into the last twenty years – which include the explosion of online marketplaces, the passing of Balraj Bahri Malhotra, and the COVID-19 lockdown. The volume feels like two halves rather than a whole, which doesn’t make it any less readable, but something is lost in the creation of a bridge between editions. The perseverance of the senior Malhotra couple, and what of their bond comes across in the writing, contributes richly to the book. It also helps that unlike Britain, where the bookshop book is a genre that is nearly as difficult to avoid as trashy pretentious thrillers (looking at a bunch of you terrible writers!), this is a rarity of a book in India, much like the shop it is about. I hope both Bahrisons and the senior Malhotras get a thicker, more detailed volume about their contribution to the literary scene sometime soon.