When all markets of the
Twin Cities remain closed on Sunday making streets
look deserted
and lonely, this unique market comes to life. Yes,
to open up only on Sundays in Abids and Kothi
is the speciality of this book market . Numerous
books spread on the roadside pavements provide a
feast to the hungry eyes of book lovers.
Predominantly consisting of second hand books, the
market has every kind of book that a bookworm may
like to go in for.. Sir Arthur Connon Doyle's Sherlock
Holmes to Arundhati Roy's 'The god of small things'.
All books for all generations.
The book selling which starts around 10' o clock,
continues till late in the evening. But the real
selling starts in the afternoon. But why only on
Sundays? There is a genuine reasons for this. First,
the vendors of these markets do not have shops or
kiosks of their own. They necessarily have to use
only the pavements. On working days thepavements
will be crowded and buzzing with commercial activity.
And the roads will be busy. Secondly, there is a
also selling strategy associated. As Sunday is a
holiday many people will find time to leisurely
browse and buy books. Says a book vendor Raza who
is in the business since ten years "People
visit this place very leisurely on Sundays. Often
with their children. And they spend lot of time
searching for books".
Buying books here is a skill. It tests the
bargainig capacity of the buyer. For example, there
are books costing around 900 rupees, like on interior
designing. But by bargaining one can buy for less
than half the price. Bargain cleverly and take home
the book dirt cheap. Other thing that is tested
here is the patience of the buyer. The more one
searches with patience, more chance of finding a
good book.
The pavements looks like an archive with old magazines,
novels, and text books. Along with books you also
find competitive exams material offered by various
coaching centres from all across India. Says a civil
service aspirant Rajesh,"I came here to
buy the Brilliant's material for the IAS. If Ii
buy it from the institute it would cost me a lot,
but here I can get it vey cheap".
Yes, that's the speciality of these books. Computer
books and Computer material of the reputed institutes
like NIIT and CMC sell like hot cakes. No wonder
then the old Hyderabadi Sunday Book Markets are
much sought after places for even the computer and
IT professionals. Do you know, Chandrababu-garu?
deserted
and lonely, this unique market comes to life. Yes,
to open up only on Sundays in Abids and Kothi
is the speciality of this book market . Numerous
books spread on the roadside pavements provide a
feast to the hungry eyes of book lovers. 
