If there is one word that sums up Raman Shrestha’s raison d'être for life, it is 'to share'. From innocuous beginnings, Rachna Books that Raman revived and gave a new avatar to, is today synonymous with the energy of the young and vibrant Sikkim. Forging new trails on old tracks, Raman has created a space for creativity, discussions and music. Café Fiction at the book store invites all to drink coffee and browse, exchange, meditate and ideate.
Like all aspiring young people, Raman, too, thought that life was elsewhere—Sikkim was a nursery, but to spread your wings you needed a larger and more challenging milieu. Raman had spent a year working in the hospitality sector in Nepal, after completing a management course in Calcutta. But his way of thinking changed in late 1999 after he had helped a cousin in Darjeeling set up a computer business. During the ride back to Gangtok down the hills and driving along the Teesta something stirred inside him. By the time he reached Rangpo, the border town between Sikkim and North Bengal, he was convinced that he was going to stay. He had to find a way to live and work here. Raman wasn’t interested in joining the bureaucracy; he wanted to do something different.
His father had started Rachna Books, way back in 1979, but it was closed now. While growing up, Raman passed this shuttered bookshop in the basement of their home every day, never suspecting that one day it was going to be the launching pad to his life.
He began by cleaning up the dust filled basement. The bookshelves were still there, the space was small.
Raman defines his role not only as a bookseller, but as a facilitator who initiates and sustains meaningful conversations, and provides people with a space to raise questions. To emphasize his chosen role he says, “It is a bookstore, but I see my job as a bridge.”
Raman does not plan events. They happen. The concept of thamzi that the late P.G. Tenzing writes about in his book, Don’t Ask Any Old Bloke for Directions, aptly describes this approach. The closest word in English would be ‘serendipity’.
In fact, in March 2009 P.G. Tenzing’s book was the first to be launched in Rachna Books, along with Wolf’s Fangs—a manga comic book, the first of its kind in India. Raman had ordered 200 copies of P.G. Tenzing’s book. And to his satisfaction the last copy of the book was sold as he was downing the shutter of his shop that evening.
Chetan Raj Shrestha’s book, King’s Harvest was first released at Rachna Books in June 2013. Ravi Singh, his editor from Aleph publishing had also come for the event. The book launch continued in the form of a day-long workshop on ‘Writing and Getting Published’ which was attended by local aspiring writers and editors.
Rachna Books has since been publishing selective titles that are important to the literary, historical, cultural, and academic landscape of the region.
Gurkha’s Daughter and Land Where I Flee by Prajwal Parajuly were also released at Rachna Books. Saul Mullard’s book, Opening the Hidden Land, was discussed in October 2012 at Rachna Books. Basing his research on Tibetan sources, the Oxford scholar, for the first time, challenged the accepted version of Sikkimese history popularized during the Chogyal’s rule. It became a contentious session when some members of the audience staged a walkout.
Rachna Books has since been publishing selective titles that are important to the literary, historical, cultural, and academic landscape of the region.
A Japanese artist’s presence developed into an exciting experience. In two days flat, the bookshop was transformed into a venue where the artful combination of art and science created a magical experience. A part of the ceiling was covered with a canopy of leaves through which a light shone onto a carpet. The illusion of stars illuminated the floor. The participants were given a butterfly catcher, and each one tried to catch a star.
As events picked up, Raman found himself doing everything from organizing seating arrangements, to setting up speakers. He then floated the idea of ‘Friends at Rachna’, a collection of friends who would lend a hand when the occasion arose. Many willingly pitched in.
The devastating earthquake of September 2011 in North Sikkim saw a spontaneous response from Friends at Rachna who said that Rachna Books should also pitch in for relief work. Friends at Rachna got down to work and soon relief supplies came pouring in—medicines, clothes, food, water and so on, and they were dispatched to the affected locations.
As for serendipitous events, Raman says, “It depends on who happens to be passing through Gangtok, and who would like to share their thoughts, talents and knowledge.” To his amazement, scholars ranging from the New York School of Arts, Oxford, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and Jawaharlal Nehru University have stopped by and shared an evening with a local audience. They have covered wide-ranging subjects—literature, art, mathematics and infinity to history and physics.
The book shop has expanded with a café called Café Fiction, and some rooms above the bookshop have been converted into Bookman’s bed-and-breakfast.
Book launches and discussions have become a regular feature; music performances and photography exhibitions as well. Every year, Rachna co-hosts Converse, a gathering of poets (in English) from Northeast India. Film shows, academic discussions, exhibitions and a flurry of other creative activities continue at Rachna, fueled largely by the power of thamzi. Rachna Books plays a critical role in tapping into a need and managing to create space for these activities.
The book shop has expanded with a café called Café Fiction, and some rooms above the bookshop have been converted into Bookman’s bed and breakfast. The banner in front of the café declares: ‘Your life is a story.’ And so, the story of Rachna Books goes on.
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Had visited Rachna Books when I was in Gangtok in 2019.Was charmed by its aura and loved going through the books and all things nice. Bought a few and was delighted to carry this treasure back home. The article is so informative and brought back beautiful memories.