Blazing sunrays ripple through numerous books, mostly English-language titles, heaped on the road at Gandhi Nagar making canyons of books for human browsers to walk through. One could call it Abids version of Vijayawada. But with a little variation: Footpath book sellers display their collection not just on Sunday but also on working days at the little space available close to Hotel Ilapuram.

Few years ago, this avenue was a favorite hunting territory for bargains and out-of-print editions. Once bustling tribe of old book sellers has shrunk to about 10 book-sellers who do a tight rope walk every day to eke out livelihood. Some have left the profession looking for greener pastures and there are very few new entrants.

Rambabu, a sentinel of these vanishing treasures and survivor of a once flourishing tribe of footpath booksellers in the city, stands sweltering to dust the books now and then with his homemade duster. “I have been in this profession for more than 20 years. Even this hotel (Ilapuram) was not constructed when I made debut in this profession, Rambabu recalls.

People still love old books despite change in life styles. Yeah, there is a tendency that the demand for text books is more. But, the business is not that worse, he says, “But we still have a faithful clientele for rare and antique books, out-of-print editions.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by G. V.R.  Subba Rao / Vijayawada – April 02nd, 2014