Exclusive Story By – Md. Mudassir Alam
Getting a quality book shop in Kishanganj, one of India’s most educationally backward district seems little difficult. However, the landmark Wheeler book shop at the small Kishanganj Railway Station makes it possible that offers a variety of books along with newspapers and magazines in various languages like English, Hindi and Bangla.
Although I have grown up seeing A. H. Wheeler book stall at the platform of Kishanganj Railway Station, but in my recent trip to my native town I visited the book shop with a different purpose. My intention was to purchase a couple of books to pass a good time in reading, and to get a better idea about the modus-operandi of Wheeler book chain. As I reached in front of Wheeler the huge collection of books ranging from Prem Chand's popular Godan to Erich Segal's classic Love Story, IT magazine Digit to Chetan Bhagat’s recent novel The Story Of My Marriage caught my attention at first sight. Kamlesh Jha, the owner of Wheeler book stall, whom I am seeing for last 25 year was present at the shop. After some introductory talk, Kamlesh Jha shared many interesting things related to Wheeler and his personal long association with the book chain as well.
A delighted Jha said, you will be pleased to know that despite such a low literacy rate there are few avid readers in Kishanganj and adjoining areas who visit my shop to buy newly released books and novels apart from magazines and newspapers. In between talk Jha informed although sounds typically English, Wheeler is actually an entirely Indian-owned enterprise based in Allahabad. Currently the company has around 260 bookstalls across the country and providing jobs to over 10,000 countrymen. On the former Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s failed attempt to ban the age-old Wheeler book shops, Jha said it think it’s not possible to replace Wheeler with any other option (book chain). Fact is that, Wheeler’s bookstores have not just been an avid reader’s delight, but they are also generating good revenue (around 80 per cent) for the railways from book sales.
With the inputs of Kamlesh Jha I reached into a conclusion that Wheeler is nothing less than a rich heritage for book lovers, and its English name has nothing to do with its real purpose i.e to provide a bouquet of reading materials to people residing in various parts of the country.
good to write on Kamleshji.I think wheeler shop is the only decent place in Kishanganj to get good English books and magzines besides he is very courteous and soft-spoken person.
ReplyDeleteSalam Yuman bhai, yeah I am feeling pleased after writing about Kamlesh Jha. I think most of the people of my age has grown up by seeing Kamlesh Jha and his bookstall since 1980s. Today the world is changing at a fast pace, but in the name of change Kamlesh Jha has just shifted his shop from MG Platform to BG Platform. Rest book, books and books and same Kamlesh Jha...We should really appreciate him for carrying the legacy of Wheeler in such a small station like Kishanganj.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Muddassir! How come you pick up the topics? The current story really brought back my fond memories of early childhood when I used to travel between Kishanganj and Sudhani with my father. The timeline (1982) quoted in the story is slightly wrong and I am sure it would be prior to 1982 since the year 1982 is unforgettable for me. It also brings me closer to you, once again.
ReplyDeleteWhile waiting for Katihar bound 29UP/30DN trains (driven by steam engine on meter gauge line), I necessarily visited the shop of Jha Chacha( as my father made me to address). By face he knows many of us but by name it would be difficult for him to keep in his memory. My favorite pick up at that time was Dharm Yug, Illustrated Weekly and later Competition Master. While the former two great magazines discontinued, the later I still glimpse through whenever I get one. So many things have changed in the Kishanganj station but Jha Chacha’s demeanor has remained as usual and so is his physique. Mr. Kamlesh Jha’s shop is a unique landmark of Kishanganj station. He has done a great service to the travelers of Kishanganj and certainly deserves recognition from us.