Rachna Bookshop Extraordinaire By Arthur Pazo Now heres a bookshop thats worth visiting over and over again,

, for what it is and what it stands for, because Rachna Books is not the usual bookstore that you visit to buy books and walk out. This one invites you to linger... The first thing that will strike your mind as you enter is the shops friendly atmosphere. But if you havent already gone inside because the door is closed, dont let it deter you. That is done not only to keep the dust generated by nearby construction sites out, but also to create a soothing private world. A world of books, soft music and gentle conversation. Once you are inside you will quite likely agree on the arrangement of an open shop with a closed entrance, its absolutely dust free. Just by the way, if the door is actually locked from the inside, make use of the bell switch thats dangling slightly above the door handle. The air inside is tranquil. The irritating noise of auto engines screaming to maneuver past the last inclines of Jeewan Theeng Marg that you may have just heard while outside is now barely audible. Perhaps, thats another reason why the door is kept shut once visitors cross the threshold. Amidst the quiet that prevails between you and the bookshelves, there is music permeating from speakers concealed behind the bookshelves soft and soothing - just loud enough to determine that its actually playing inside but at a comfortable degree so that its not a distraction. Take note also that this is not the kind of music commonly heard. If you are an aficionado of jazz or the blues, you are at the right place to lay your hands on some hard to find albums. Consider it a welcoming gesture and nothing otherwise, the neat little lounge set up at the other end where it is likely that you will find prospective buyers browsing their selections and like them, you are at liberty to sit and leaf around your choice of books. This generous provision I should say is a necessity for those on a random quest for new titles like me when visiting a bookshop. If its your first time inside Rachna, you will perhaps balk at my claim and decide to ascertain for yourself with a polite request to the friendly owner before exploiting the opportunity. The books on display reflects the meticulous care taken in arranging the publications in a categorical order and the selections provided does indeed indicate that the owner is a knowledgeable person and in trend with current demand. From best seller titles to avant-garde philosophies, and from childrens books to reference manuals, the subject range is quite impressive. There is also a broad collection on subjects related to the region by noteworthy explorers and researchers of the past as well as others more recently published and authored by our own friends and acquaintances or at least people visible to us. Of course, there is a limitation on each subject range and it is not quite as extensive as one would really like it to be. I suppose the inadequacy is directly proportional to the reading habits prevalent (in Gangtok) today or for that matter and without any doubt, a condition of global magnitude where our leisure hours are spent more on television programs and less over reading.

Now who is this friendly owner of whom and of whose shop I have been showering praises in an abundance of admiration and high approval? This is very unlike me because more often than not, I am one who derives great pleasure in criticizing people who do not meet my expectations in what they profess. However, in my several years of acquaintance with Raman Shrestha, I have perceived in my observations of him that his practice embraces an attitude of concern that largely overrules the motive of sheer profit. For instance, there are numerous titles on display with an extremely low rate of turnover yet he keeps them; books that are for learning more than for pleasure, and for such a place as Gangtok lying in the boondocks of the Eastern Himalaya where public reading facilities is rare at the most, and where the next good book shop lies a hundred kilometers to the south, its an admirable attitude. And even if these un-saleable items are exempt of deposits at the distributors, think of the valuable rack-space they occupy? Mind you, empty space within shelves translates to valuable real estate inside a bookstore. Raman Shrestha, shop owner extraordinaire does indeed cut an oddball figure in the trade and commerce scene of Sikkim because unlike most entrepreneurs who are in business and in the business of stockpiling saleable commodities for a quick turnover of investment, he lives with a passion to encourage others to develop their reading habits, nurture awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture and seemingly so, Rachna Books is slowly emerging as a multidimensional event platform for creative minds. Just look at the signs and posters outside the shop and you are likely to see notices of upcoming events or a show that is running. When Raman decided to expand his shop to include the floor above which was formerly a part of a now non-operational family business, the guest house Raenbasera, he had initially thought of setting up a coffee shop on the notion that it would woo in more customers to come for his books. I thought that was an excellent idea so in the ensuing months I kept following its progress and on every occasion that I met him, the question on its readiness would prop up. But to my surprise, when all was set, I was told that it wasnt going to be a coffee shop after all. Somewhere along the way Ramans thoughts shifted towards a more brilliant idea, that of having an exhibition gallery. Great! But again, which businessman in his right frame of mind, would ever in a place like Gangtok come up with, or execute such a proposition? Once again, its a matter of valuable real estate but then again, Ramans motivation has never ever been only about personal profit. Several years have gone by since the upstairs room of Rachna became a permanent gallery where local artists have the opportunity to exhibit their talent. It also doubles as a venue for talks, performances and audio visual shows. The gallery has hosted a variety of events over the last one year. From documentary film festivals to evenings devoted to music and plays. It has also become the favourite place for local authors and journalists to launch new publications and books. It offers a perennial platform for showcasing works of amateur and professional photographers under the banner "Aperture Culture. It is also home to the Small Town Film Club, a platform for independent and amateur film-makers to showcase their works to the audience in this part of the Himalaya. So, if youre keen for an occasional dose of stimulating visual and aural distraction out of the ordinary, check out whats going on at Rachna.