India, Sept. 28 -- It is a common perception that printed books and their enthusiasts are swiftly approaching obsolescence, largely attributed to the advent of handheld reading devices and a perceived indifference towards traditional print literature among Gen Z. Yet, the burgeoning presence of both physical and online bookstores, the vibrant public engagement at book fairs and literary festivals, along with an expanding community of writers, seem to challenge this prevailing belief. Post 1857, the earliest known bookstore to emerge in Lucknow was M/s Brittania Bookstall, situated in colonial Hazratganj. It is notable that during this period, a variety of establishments such as provision stores, newsagents, and departmental stores also offered books, magazines, and newspapers for sale. The demand for reading material imported from Britain was significant, and literature was cherished as a source of enjoyment and leisure rather than viewed as an obligation, in stark contrast to contemporary attitudes. The 1930s marked a transformative era for the literary landscape of Lucknow with the establishment of two bookstores that left a lasting impression on the city. Lala Gobind Ram, hailing from Dera Ghazi Khan in the Multan district of British India, chose to relocate to Lucknow along with his extended family. Driven by a fervour for art and literature, he opened a shop in colonial Hazratganj dedicated to the sale of books, magazines and related reading materials. Within a span of few decades, his efforts resulted in the establishment of the massive Universal Book Depot, located adjacent the Regal/Filmistan cinema (now recognized as PVR Sahu), which became the largest bookstore in Lucknow, solidifying his legacy in the city's literary history. Unfortunately, family disputes caused the store to close down and the family members to branch out, almost all using the moniker of 'Universal' for their branches. The biggest branch was Universal Booksellers in Jahangirabad Mansion, Hazratganj. While Lala Gobind Ram was creating history in Lucknow, one Shanti Prakash Kakkar established a book shop in Mhow (Indore district), to cater to the army personnel stationed there. He decided to move to Lucknow, where he opened a bookstore on leased premises at Hazratganj. This was the iconic British Book Depot, which remained a landmark for decades, before finally closing down in 2023. Ram Advani was born on October 12, 1920, in Karachi, in a Sindhi family of booksellers who operated shops across what is now Pakistan. He reached Lucknow with his father in 1928, where he spent his formative years, earning his Masters from Lucknow University. Briefly, he looked after his family bookshop in Lahore, but finally migrated to Lucknow during Partition. He managed to get a kiosk for selling books, at the entrance of present-day Gandhi Ashram in 1948. But his final destination was the Mayfair building, where he opened the Ram Advani Booksellers in 1951. Beyond serving as a bookstore, it evolved into a cultural centre for Lucknowites, who, immersed in a vintage atmosphere and engaged in intellectual discussions. This venerable figure from the literary world passed away on March 9, 2016. Shortly thereafter, his shop was closed down, marking the end of an era characterised by book reading, refined discourse and an old-world charm. As any book lover from the 1960s - 70s would attest, Ram Advani's establishment was distinctly high-brow, while British Book Depot focussed more on selling school and college textbooks. Universal, on the other hand, did offer an impressive selection of novels, comics and easy reading material, alongside dedicated counters for school/college textbooks and stationery. However, with minimal resources available, most students from prestigious institutions such as St Francis' College (myself included), Loreto Convent, and La Martiniere could only gaze enviously at the glossy imported comics and books on display - perhaps reading a few surreptitiously in fast forward mode before beating a hasty exit. In this scenario, a highly popular bookstore, Hobby Corner, emerged on the scene. Owned by the Beg brothers, Moin and Mubeen, this venture consisted of two shops: one named Hobby House - a small kiosk located in Lovers' Lane manned by Mubeen - and the larger shop, accessible via a stairway, situated above the former Modern Novelty Stores, perched on the roof of the verandah like a bee hive. This was Hobby Corner, managed by the elder brother, Moin. The shops offered an extensive selection of second-hand books and comics (purchase, exchange and rent). Tattered comics, lacking covers were priced at 0.25p, whereas the second-hand Indrajals (Phantom, Mandrake) were available for 0.40p. The cost of imported comics (Superman, Tarzan, Disney) varied between 0.50p and 0.75p. From Enid Blyton to Erle Stanley Gardner - the shop stocked works of all genres. Generations of students, and even-office goers benefited from Hobby Corner's book collection, and many of us still retain books from that period. Following the anti-encroachment initiative in Hazratganj during the late 1970s, Lovers' Lane was dismantled, leading to the establishment of Janpath Market in the Begum Kothi area. The larger Hobby Corner relocated to Janpath Market, whereas Mubeen, with his smaller kiosk, was relegated to selling his limited selection on the pavement of the former Lovers' Lane. However, Hobby Corner at Janpath could not endure following the passing of Moin, and the property was later sold to a different buyer. As the younger generation hurries by, oblivious of the past, the frail Mubeen of the former Hobby Corner/Hobby House can occasionally be spotted, trying to sell books from his meagre collection laid out on the sidewalk, where his store once stood many years ago. His is a living memory from an entirely different Hazratganj, which existed half a century ago. The writer, a former scientist, has authored several books on the forgotten heritage of Lucknow...