Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Saqib Manzoor

‘It shatters my heart’: the slow death of India’s once-famous Urdu book bazaar

India New Delhi
Four Indian men read books in a bookshop, which is open on to an busy street
Kutub Khana Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu, one of the oldest bookshops in Delhi’s Urdu Bazaar, is run by Moin-Ud-Din, whose grandfather opened it in 1939. Photograph: Danyal Hassan

Inside one of the oldest bookshops in Delhi’s Urdu Bazaar, Rafiq Ahmad, a film critic and writer, is scrutinising the bookshelves for material to help with his next project. Ahmad often travels from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh to Delhi’s famed Urdu Bazaar in search of the books he needs.

“I know this is the place where I can find any Urdu book from any era. Whenever I have to write anything, I come here for material. Currently, I am looking for books about Dilip Kumar, the renowned Bollywood actor,” Ahmad says.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Table for 1? Nearly 40 percent of all restaurant visits are solo diners
More people are embracing the idea of taking themselves out on a date in recent years, with one New York City-based influencer telling her viewers: ‘It’s hard for me to want a boyfriend because I take myself on cute solo dates’
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
The Hidden Difference Between “Natural” and “Organic” on Food Labels
Walk down a grocery store aisle, and you will find packages promising everything from natural ingredients to certified organic products. Both labels can make food sound healthier, cleaner, or closer to the way nature intended, but they do not mean the same thing. One generally describes certain characteristics of a…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Is having urine the color of Mountain Dew normal?
A Trump administration doctor says neon yellow urine is normal because of diets consisting entirely of meat and fermented foods. Here’s what experts say
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Country Music Star Accused of Satanism Rips Online 'Parasites' Pushing a Highly Negative Narrative
Zac Brown rejects satanic claims about his Las Vegas Sphere shows, calling online critics 'parasites' and explaining the personal story behind the imagery. Copy
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Nicki Minaj's Lawyers Reportedly Want To Quit Rapper's 'Unreasonably Difficult' Jingle Ball Lawsuit
Nicki Minaj's lawyers are seeking to withdraw from a $275K Jingle Ball lawsuit, citing irreconcilable differences and a breakdown in communication.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Heidi Klum Teases 'Very, Very Bloody' Halloween Costume as Fans Spot Grotesque Body Parts
Heidi Klum has teased her 2026 Halloween costume with an image of brain- and intestine-like prosthetics, prompting fan theories before her annual New York party.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play