Once a vibrant destination for bibliophiles, College Street in Kolkata is now a shadow of its former self, having suffered extensive damage from torrential rains on September 22 and 23. Many shops along this renowned stretch were inundated, resulting in the destruction of thousands of books, including rare editions, Puja specials, and essential school titles. The impact transcends financial loss, representing a significant blow to a rich literary heritage.
Maruf Hossain, 45, has operated the Abhiyan Book Café for over 21 years. He reported losses of nearly one lakh rupees due to rainwater damage that obliterated a vast inventory of campaign books, magazines, and equipment. “This year’s rains have caused unprecedented damage. We’ve never experienced anything like this, not even during Cyclone Amphan,” he stated somberly. While Hossain managed to save some rare books, vital records and documents were not spared. He noted that some fellow sellers were less fortunate, losing irreplaceable editions.
Hossain expressed concerns for the future of Bengali literature, stating, “This is a major setback for Bengali books and literature,” and he fears that small and medium publishers are on the verge of collapse. “I might be able to cover my losses with savings, but for others, the situation is dire.” He estimates the total damages across College Street to be in the crores of rupees. Although some private aid has come from readers, he insists it is insufficient without government intervention.
No official relief has been forthcoming, prompting Hossain and the Kolkata Creative Publishers’ Welfare Association to appeal to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for better flood management infrastructure, including a dedicated pumping station. “The government must implement a plan to prevent such incidents or at least minimize the damage,” he urged, lamenting political inaction.
For 29-year-old Sourav Bishai, who founded Barta Prakashan nearly a decade ago, the destruction is staggering. He has lost approximately 3,000 books, including fresh Puja editions, and half of his printing machinery is now nonfunctional due to submersion. “Those two days were catastrophic,” he recalled. “We have faced numerous challenges but this disaster has pushed us to the brink.”
Bishai compared the floods to previous crises like the COVID lockdowns and Cyclone Amphan, asserting that the recent flooding was more devastating. “It rained all night. No one was in the shops, and the water stagnated for hours.” He also lost critical research documents and journals on Kolkata and Vivekananda. “Several books we were about to publish have been destroyed, and the research is lost forever,” he said.
To recover from the calamity, Bishai intends to organize a book fair featuring both small and large publishers to sell partially damaged books at discounted rates. “Standing together gives us strength,” he asserted, yet expressed disappointment at the lack of response from the Chief Minister’s office. “Neither the ruling nor opposition parties have acknowledged our losses.”
Deeper within the lanes, Tuhin Saha, 47, faces compounded distress. Having spent 20 years working on College Street, he opened two stores, Anindita Book Stall and Boi er Aturghor, within the last decade. The floods decimated textbooks on various subjects and rare magazines, costing him around ₹70,000 to ₹80,000. “Irreplaceable works by writers like Sunil Gangopadhyay and Sukumar Ray are gone,” he lamented. “These books carry the emotions of every Bengali, and their loss is irreparable.”
Saha recognizes the relief efforts underway but questions their adequacy. “Even if assistance arrives, can we ever replace those books that were the soul of Bengal? Emotions captured in them cannot be recreated.” He noted that while regular visitors provide some support, ongoing fundraisers strain their goodwill.
What Saha longs for most is long-term responsibility. “The Chief Minister, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and local authorities must collaborate to ensure efficient drainage,” he stressed, recalling more effective past practices. “For two decades, I’ve witnessed the same flooding cycle repeat. Earlier, KMC workers managed the cleaning of drains and manholes regularly, which no longer occurs.”
Saha concluded on a poignant note, asking, “How do we rewrite those books by Bengal’s greats with the same feeling? We simply can’t.”
Tags: Kolkata’s College Street booksellers grapple with irreplaceable losses after September floodwater Extract 5 SEO-friendly keywords as tags. Output only keywords, comma separated.
Hashtags: #Kolkatas #College #Street #booksellers #grapple #irreplaceable #losses #September #floodwater
