Abids Sunday book bazaar in Hyderabad is losing its allure, with vendors attributing the decline to the convenience offered by e-commerce platforms and waning interest in literature.
This iconic street market, cherished by bibliophiles for over half a century, used to attract throngs of readers who could browse through a diverse selection of books in languages like Telugu, English, Urdu, and Hindi, spanning genres from toddler books to crime thrillers and beyond.
However, a decade ago, the market buzzed with readers, and now it faces a dwindling customer base. The emergence of online book-selling e-commerce platforms is one factor, and customers lament the challenge of finding specific titles in the bazaar. Prices for books in the market range from Rs 20 to Rs 1,200 and more, depending on their size and value.
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Syed Mushtaq Ali, a seasoned vendor, expressed his concern, saying, “I have been selling second-hand books for 25 years, following in my father’s footsteps. Since the onset of Covid, we’ve been losing customers, and the enthusiasm of bibliophiles has waned.”
Rahmat Ali, another vendor, pointed out, “People are becoming more inclined towards online shopping, despite our competitive pricing. The footfall on our street has diminished.”
Despite declining sales, some loyal customers still frequent the bazaar. Raghu, a book buyer, shared, “I’ve been coming here for three years to find second-hand and affordable books. However, if I can’t find what I’m looking for, I resort to online purchases, a trend that’s becoming common.”
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