Change of Scene

Beginning with school books,then college text books,the bookstore diversified with the changing market and readership. Arora built the store into a niche space for readers of all age groups. Regular book launches,interactions with authors and book readings kept the store abuzz with activity. While the reasons for the shift are many,Arora denies that the business has been affected with the entry of online shopping portals. “Many people will soon read a book on their phone or iPad,but right now there are many who love the feel of a book in their hand,’’ says Arora,who assures that the new store will retain the same connect,content and feel. This is what many old timers from the city hope for,as they see Sector 17 losing some of its iconic landmarks to the changing landscape and times. “Technology,customers,market forces,business plans,all play a part in change,yet,you do miss the old spaces and their comfort. These are places which hold many special moments and memories,’’ says Anuradha Gupta,an English professor,who recalls how every Saturday she would read to her daughter at Capitol’s quaint children’s section. “I started when she was three,until she was old enough to refuse to be read to,but always game to get a book,’’ shares Gupta.

Jaswant Singh,a retired IAS officer,for whom Indian Coffee House was a meeting point says,“For a quick idli,filter coffee and chat,I would go to the smaller Indian Coffee House near the Plaza fountain,which also shut shop this January,’’ says Singh. It now operates from a four-storey building in Kusumpati,Shimla. For many,the Coffee House was a hangout since 1971,a place that was unpretentious and affordable. “All the new poetry I wrote was first read here to a select and encouraging audience of friends,with the manager always making space for our group and never hurrying us to leave. We would collect Rs 20 each and have a feast here,’’ says Sushmita Sethi.

All of Sector 17’s traditional single screen theatres — Jagat,KC and Neelam — are set to be transformed into shopping mall-cum-multiplexes,with work near completion at Jagat. To date,the dome-shaped structure of KC Theatre is almost a tourist sight and will hopefully be retained. “KC was ‘the place’ to watch movies,with the lines outside the ticket window sometimes a kilometre-long,and for the latest English movies,we would head to Kiran. The samosas and the hotdogs were brilliant,and this would be our Saturday night outing,’’ reminisces Renu Nayar,author and former journalist .