A conversation with the book historian on how Daryaganj’s Patri Kitab Bazaar tells the story of Delhi’s urban aspirations, spatial politics and informal economies: https://www.himalmag.com/podcast/kanupriya-dhingra-delhi-daryaganj-book-bazaarWelcome to the Southasia Review of Books Podcast from Himal Southasian, where we speak to celebrated authors and emerging literary voices from across Southasia. In this episode, Shwetha Srikanthan speaks to the book historian Kanupriya Dhingra about her recent monograph, Old Delhi’s Parallel Book Bazaar (Cambridge University Press, November 2024)
Tucked in the lanes of Old Delhi, the Daryaganj Sunday Book Market is a name that’s familiar to many. Synonymous with the sale of used, rare and pirated books since the 1960s, the bazaar continues to evolve over the years of its several relocations and regulations.
As a site of resilience and possibilities, the market also tells the story of Delhi’s urban aspirations, spatial politics, informal economies, and more. In this collective biography of the bazaar and its booksellers, Dhingra traces an ephemeral literary culture that has managed to survive in a world where printed words are as endangered as ever.
This episode is now available on Spotify: Apple Podcasts: Youtube: https://youtu.be/1pYYSjfD6to
We’re on a mission to give Southasian literature the spotlight it deserves. Become a paying Himal Patron for just USD 5/month to support the Southasia Review of Books: https://bit.ly/support-himal