Today was a quiet monsoon Sunday in Bangalore and I strolled down Brigade Road to go through a narrow lane on the left to reach the iconic Select Bookshop, the temple of books. The place was bustling with visitors and volunteers for today is Mr. K.K.S. Murthy’s ninetieth birthday. To celebrate this occasion today the bookstore had ‘The 90’s Sale’ with books in Classics, Biographies, Indian Fiction, Children’s, Regional Languages, Economics and Politics genres neatly arranged in piles on the staircase.
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| The smartest shelf! |
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| Poster for the posterity! |
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| Open Sesame! |
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| And that was the treasure we found! |
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| The grand teak chair |
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| The grand clock |
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| Older than independent India, yes it is! |
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| Mr Murthy looking as dapper as ever, we love you Sir! |
I was impressed with the rare choices given today’s times of the so called best sellers. Also, the Open Sesame rack near the store’s entrance was a reader’s delight, truly colorful and neat. While the classic wooden chair and grandfather’s clock with a dozen paintings and photographs on the wall gives one the old Bangalore feeling and a sense of belonging to this city, the place will also surprise you with some rare finds and entertaining titles. I did get a few nice ones for my reading and shelf.
What draws me to the place is the whole-hearted smile of Mr. Murthy and his exquisite book recommendations. Today on his special day he looked adorable surrounded by books and readers, smiles and laughter. He cut his birthday cake for all those who came to wish him as we all 'Select Lovers' sang 'Happy Birthday' in unison.
While the world continues to move at its pace, we must not forget that no online sale with discounts and pre-orders or any bookstore selling toys, stationery and gifts along with books will give us that one precious conversation with a legendary bookstore owner, an ardent book collector and most of all a great human being who may influence your taste of reading, and who knows it may change you for life!
What draws me to the place is the whole-hearted smile of Mr. Murthy and his exquisite book recommendations. Today on his special day he looked adorable surrounded by books and readers, smiles and laughter. He cut his birthday cake for all those who came to wish him as we all 'Select Lovers' sang 'Happy Birthday' in unison.
While the world continues to move at its pace, we must not forget that no online sale with discounts and pre-orders or any bookstore selling toys, stationery and gifts along with books will give us that one precious conversation with a legendary bookstore owner, an ardent book collector and most of all a great human being who may influence your taste of reading, and who knows it may change you for life!
Mine did.
Happy Birthday Mr. Murthy.
Wishing you all the happiness in this world and good health.
Thank you for all the knowledge through books, and for teaching me the value of humility and simplicity.
-R.
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