You are a self-mode man and a successful law bookseller how did you start and what was your journey like?
I was born on 8th March 1933 in an agriculturist family in a remote village that is now in Pakistan. I was studying in 8th class when the partition of India took place. Our whole family moved to a refugee camp in Pakistan where all the occupants used to get meal mixed with sand which resulted in the family getting sick. My grandfather died in the camp followed by my father and my sister who also passed away after migration to India within a span of six months. My ailing mother and I moved to Ambala Cantonment where I joined a high school. After matriculation I applied for admission in a college for further studies but in view of my activities associated with the ideology of RSS, I was denied admission in college. I stayed with my elder brother who had also migrated from Pakistan and was engaged in medical practice. In order to avoid financial burden on my elder brother I joined as a part-time trainee working on a lathe machine in a factory engaged in manufacturing scientific instruments and in my spare time I started teaching some primary students to make a living. At the age of 15, I was arrested in Ambala Cantonment for being a member of RSS which was banned by the Government of India but was released because I was underage. To avoid further complications I moved to Allahabad in 1951 and joined as a salesman with Central Law Agency. I toured various states of India and realised the value of books as people showed extraordinary respect to me as a messenger of knowledge.
Share your experience as a salesman and as a bookseller?
During my job in Allahabad, while on a tour in Orissa in 1953, I was travelling on a train from Puri to the then newly developed Ganjam district to obtain orders for the law library. It was a day journey and the ticket collector came to check the tickets. Mostly passenger did not have tickets and were paying the fare to the ticket collector who was keeping the money in his pocket. I was perhaps the only one in the compartment with a ticket. He stared at me as if I had done something wrong.
This left an impression on me and I couldn’t sleep. During the night with a candle, I wrote a postcard narrating this incident to the then Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri After a few weeks I returned from the tour and found a letter in response to my postcard from the minister’s office asking me to see him when he next visits Allahabad. I immediately wrote back saying that I am a travelling salesman, and so I will not be able to know the date of the minister’s visit, One fine morning a police officer came to my house and asked me to accompany him to the minister. I went with him to Lal Bahadur Shastri who smiled and asked me to sit by his side. He introduced me to all the senior railway officers and others present in the conference room. Then he took out my first postcard and read out the prevailing state of affairs in the railway department. I was really impressed by Shastri Ji’s simplicity, sincerity and quick action. What a difference now?
As a bookseller, I came in close contact with a number of judges, scholars, jurists, law officers and advocates of high academic distinction. Sometimes I have gone out of my way to help the customers by procuring rare and out of print titles for them. Due to this I earned a well-deserved reputation. Once K R Naraynan then President of India asked me far a book which was out of print. I procured that book from a UK publisher, who sent the same complimentary. I personally rushed to Rashtrapati Bhawan to deliver that book. He asked me how much to pay and I said nothing sir as it has come complimentary. This and many other such instances have really paid me in the long run. I can not live without going to my bookshop daily. I enjoy doing this as I believe a Bookshop is a Temple; Customer, a presiding deity and I the priest to serve and worship. I would love to be known as a modest, humble and straightforward bookseller.
From a successful law bookseller what prompted you to start publishing?
My relationship with my customers and lawyers are friendly. One day my friend H L Kumar, a lawyer came to me and said “Why don’t you publish Delhi Shops and Establishment Act which I have authored?” I couldn’t say no. So with this I started publishing and it became our first book.
In 1995, I promoted a Company “Universal Law Publishing Co. (P) Ltd.” for publishing books by eminent authors, judges, advocates of high academic distinction and law teachers. We have also reprinted over 200 best selling titles on law under licence from more than two dozen internationally known publishers of UK, USA, Australia, Malaysia and Netherland with the objective of making these books available at affordable prices for the benefit of students and professionals. I am proud to say that Universal has built-up a well-deserved reputation in the legal world that continues to be reflected in our ever increasing range of publications and a large numbers of Bare Acts, Rules and Statutes.
You were the President of DSBPA in 1990-93. Any experiences you would like to share?
I have been active in DSBPA and FPBA for a long time and held many positions in these Associations. I was made the Chairman of Joint Action Committee UAC) of both the associations to discipline the book trade and make them adhere to the Good Offices Committee (GOC) decisions. The committee was very active and strict to take disciplinary actions against members for violation of rules. Even some senior members of the executive committee were not spared.
Overall the members cooperated with us and we were able to bring discipline in the book trade.
I learnt that you have earned a place in Limca Book of Records. How were you selected for the same?
On completing 50 years in the book trade and service to the legal profession, the Bar Association of India for the first time decided to honour a non-legal person for providing service to the legal profession. They considered me as a supplier of knowledge to the legal profession. I was honoured and a souvenir was released during the function. This was the reason I was included in the limca Book of Records, 2004 edition. I also received awards: Distinguished Booksellers Award (1997 from FPBA); Excellence in Law Publishing Award (1998 from FIP); Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Book Trade (1999 from FPBA); Lifetime Achievement Award presented to me by FPBA in their 54th AGM 2008. Federation of Indian Publisher organised a special function in 2007. At that occasion a plaque of honour was given to me by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit.
How have you distributed the work between yourself and your family?
Not only sons, my daughter-in-Iaws and my grandson are also contributing to this family business. I have three sons and all have training in retail trade as I consider it a must for success in publishing. This helps in knowing your customers’ mind. Pradeep, the eldest, is a law graduate and looks after publishing and editing of books and reprinting of foreign books in India and his wife Neena also takes interest. Sanjeev, a graduate from Delhi University, looks after the marketing and wholesale distribution of our publications and his wife Vibha is an advocate in the High Court and also a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Manish did a doctorate from Harvard Law School, US He is an advocate practicing in Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India and looks after the acquisition of new authors and liaises with the legal fraternity. He also runs a law institute to train law entrance students and lawyers for judicial service exams and his wife Purnima looks after the management of the institute. My grandson Anubhav, a graduate, and an MBA from Lincon University (UK) looks after the retail business. Though I have no responsibility now, I cannot live without coming to the shop, come what may. I believe that as long as you work you are young, otherwise you are growing old.
How do you manage to look so relaxed?
I am a satisfied and contended person and my motto now is not to work for financial gain alone, I work so that I can continue to work.
Do you have any hobby?
I sing patriotic songs, and love to watch patriotic and historical movies and watch TV serials on Aastha and Sanskar. I also enjoy attending functions related to the legal profession, legal education and book trade.
(Publishing Today, November 2009)
