This Churchgate bookshop is a treasure trove for Marx, Shivaji and Ambedkar
Updated On: 26 February, 2023 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto
Started in 1973 by the Communist Party of India in the city, People’s Book House today boasts not only of political literature but also Marathi literature that includes books about Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj and the Dalit movement
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Gopal Poojari has been managing People`s Book House for over 30 years. Photo Courtesy: Nascimento Pinto/Mid-day file pic
A little over 35 years ago, Gopal Poojari started managing People’s Book House situated in Churchgate, just off Horniman Circle, next to Yazdani Bakery, and it was as if it was meant to be. Before that, the Mumbaikar, who hails from Mangalore but was born and brought up in Goregaon, had done odd jobs of different kinds. However, he fell in love with Marathi literature early on and after juggling a few jobs settled in this job. The passion and dedication for which can be seen as he lists the names of the various books and their translations in Hindi and Marathi that are housed in the bookshop, some of which include works by members of the Dalit movement and about Maharashtra’s history too.
Interestingly, the People’s Book House was started by the Communist Party of India (CPI), known to be one of the oldest communist parties in India, in 1973. After seeing a handful of managers, Poojari found out about the job vacancy and started manning the desk in 1985. Today, the 57-year-old visibly knows much more than when he started out. “Initially, the book shop had a lot of Russian political books and a lot of Mumbaikars used to come to get books at the exhibition that used to be held at different places in Churchgate and VT (Victoria Terminus). The books were subsidised and between Rs 50 – 100.”
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