From literary hub to food street — the vanishing legacy of Urdu Bazaar

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, August 25

Once a vibrant hub of Urdu literature, the lane near Gate No. 2 of Jama Masjid, now famous for its kebabs and Mughlai cuisine, has undergone a dramatic transformation. The area, known as Urdu Bazaar, was once lined with bookstores offering a wide range of Urdu novels, magazines, poetry compilations and other literary treasures, attracting visitors from all corners of the city. Today, however, the bazaar’s literary roots have been largely forgotten, replaced by bustling food stalls and garment shops.

Rich history fades

The literary atmosphere of this market is gone. The Urdu Bazaar has completely vanished; it has now been replaced by food stalls, and the market has turned into a food street. — Mehfuz Alam,

caretaker of Maktaba Jamia Limited

I have personally seen the glory of this market with my own eyes. Writers, poets, actors and even politicians used to come to buy books here, and they would sit and have tea, with impromptu poetry sessions happening on the side.

— Shahidur Rahman, owner of Kutub Khana

Walking through the bylanes of Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, the term “Urdu Bazaar” may still resonate with some, but for many visitors, its historical significance has faded into obscurity. “There used to be hundreds of bookstores in this lane, all dealing with various Urdu books, different poets, fiction books, magazines — the options were endless,” said Mehfuz Alam, caretaker of the historic Maktaba Jamia Limited, in a conversation with The Tribune. “But that was before 1988. From that point on, the craze and frenzy for Urdu started to deplete. Now, hardly three-four Urdu bookstores are left in the main lane,” he added.

According to Alam, the decline in interest in Urdu literature and the market itself has been stark. “The literary atmosphere of this market is gone. The Urdu Bazaar has completely vanished; it has now been replaced by food stalls, and the market has turned into a food street,” he lamented.

During a recent visit by The Tribune, only three bookstores were found open in the area, surrounded by food vendors and clothing shops. Zaidul Rahman, brother of the current owner of Kutub Khana, expressed his dismay at the changing landscape. “The youth has now shifted their focus from knowledge to looks, spending more time shopping for clothes or going to the gym instead of being in touch with their roots,” he said.

Rahman also pointed to the impact of the Internet on the decline of Urdu and the market. “Ever since the Internet took over, print media has been in decline, with books taking the biggest hit. Combined with the lack of interest in the language, the market also started to die down. Even Muslim families don’t teach their kids Urdu anymore, believing that their kids won’t succeed with this language,” he added.

Kutub Khana, one of the last remaining Urdu bookstores, has witnessed the rise and fall of Urdu Bazaar first-hand. “Opened in 1905, this shop has been here since then. Four generations have taken care of this bookshop,” said Shahidur Rahman, the current owner. “I have seen the glory of this market with my eyes. Writers, poets, actors and even politicians used to come to buy books here, and they would sit and have tea, with impromptu poetry sessions happening on the side,” he said.

Recalling a memorable moment, Rahman said, “Even actor Shah Rukh Khan’s father used to come to my shop to buy Urdu books. Shah Rukh himself used to come as well. People who were interested in learning the language used to visit, and some still do, but the glory is not the same.”

What was once a bustling literary haven has now become just another food street, with few visitors aware of the rich history and cultural significance that Urdu Bazaar once held.