Pune: Independent Bookstores and Libraries Shutter in Pune Amid Shifting Reading Habits
Pune, 7th August 2025: While Pune continues to witness a surge in enthusiasm for book festivals, a contrasting reality is unfolding quietly across the city- several long-standing private libraries and independent bookstores are shutting their doors due to diminishing footfall and financial strain.
One such example is ‘Bhavarth’, a Marathi-centric independent bookstore located in Kothrud. Launched in July 2022 with the vision of promoting Marathi literature, Bhavarth was more than a retail space — it hosted numerous author events and literary programs over the past three years. However, due to a lack of sustainable commercial response, the owners have announced its closure. Books from the store will be sold at discounted rates until August 25.
“People showed interest only after news of the closure spread — but by then it was too late. If readers had supported such spaces regularly, they could have survived. Bookstores and libraries can thrive only if the reading community participates actively,” said co-founders Prasad Karandikar and Mr. Korgavkar.
“Shiny bookstores often struggle with viability. It’s not always convenient for readers to access inner-city libraries. Still, traditional bookshops survive, and there are delivery-based lending libraries that are gaining traction. The reading culture is evolving — not vanishing. One cannot draw a direct link between the closure of some book spaces and a decline in reading habits,” said Prasad Bhadsawale, a librarian and book promoter.
Another major blow came with the closure of ‘Shilpa Vachanalaya’, a private library that had served Pune’s Bajirao Road for over five decades. Founded in 1975 by Dinesh Joshi and his brother, the library once housed over 15,000 books, including an extensive collection of children’s literature, magazines, fiction, and non-fiction.
While these closures raise concerns about the state of reading culture, experts argue that the scenario is more nuanced.
