In the heart of West Delhi, amid the cacophony of kids playing on the streets and men and women flocking to vegetable markets; in a small dingy corner lay the only leftist bookstore in Delhi. Surrounded by houses and small grocery shops, the bookstore stood out with its yellow doors with a clear message imprinted on them, “8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, 8 hours for books and coffee.” The bookstore itself would have been concealed from the eyes of the people if it hadn’t been for these doors and the small black and red board that hung on top, that had the letters ‘May Day’ etched on it. Located far away and in the middle of a residential set up, it seemed as if it did not attract a lot of customers. Once we entered, however, we were astounded by the world that lay beyond those doors.
Two shelves of books in a dimly lit room greeted us as we stepped in; some old and some new were stacked on them upto the ceiling. The mustard coloured walls of the bookstore were freckled and old, and dusty tote bags hung above our heads. Apart from the wide range of books, we came across powerful posters that greeted us in every corner like live political commentary. One side of the bookstore had a hand painted teapot with a white miniature cycle dangling from the ceiling.
May Day Bookstore and Cafe in Ranjit Nagar houses the widest range of left writings including authors such as Rosa Luxemburg, Lenin, Marx and Engels. Books by Che Geuvera, Castro and Stalin also adorned the shelves of this store. The crisp smell of new paper clearly stated that most of the books were new members of the family. Lights dangled across these shelves, their scintillating colours filling up that dark little room.
An attendant rushed towards us and switched on the lights as he saw us enter. The dark room was suddenly flooded with big tube lights that shone from the ceiling. More shelves were now visible, as we saw works of new authors stacked on these shelves among the others. On the opposite side, the shelves housed classics written by Doestevesky, Rumi and Homer.
May Day Bookstore was opened by LeftWord Books publishing house on 1st May 2012, which is also the International Workers Day (thus the name ‘May Day’). In almost a decade of its existence, the bookstore has become largely popular among the youth of Delhi, mainly because of the handful of people who ran this establishment. All volunteers, their cheerful faces and warm attitudes create a haven for bibliophiles who travel miles from different parts of the city to visit this place. To the right of the bookstore is a small studio attached to it. Known commonly as the ‘Safdar Studio’, it is a space occupied by the Jana Natya Manch. Regular meetings, performances, readings, discussions and film screenings are held here for people to come and be a part of.
Inside the store, each corner has its own unique little aspect. The bookstore also has a little kitchen decorated with blue fairy lights; the shelves look homely with cups of different shapes, sizes and colours. The kitchen has a small seating area which resembles a small cafe. Mr. Suvendu Mallick, the marketing manager of the bookstore, tells us that the original plan included a proper cafe but the space proved to be insufficient for it. Still, the people who visit the store can always enjoy a warm cup of coffee served by the volunteers themselves.
As we went a bit ahead, a partition was visible as two white cloth curtains hung with a black and white picture of two farmers printed on them. The right one had a message painted on it in red which said – “Kisan ki aah jo dil se nikali jayegi, kya samajhte ho ki khali jayegi?” which means – ‘A farmer’s plea from the heart, will not go unheard’.
On 30th November 2018, farmers from numerous states reached Delhi through various means and marched towards the Parliament to voice their concerns against the intensifying agrarian crisis in the country. A number of posters in the bookstore marked its solidarity with the Kisan March.
More than a century and a half ago, Delhi was an important city during the first battle of independence against the British Raj. Standing at the heart of the revolt, this city witnessed one of the greatest battles ever fought for independence from the Raj. Since then, the city and its many residents have become synonymous with the word resistance.
May Day is carrying on the centuries old legacy of Delhi. Howsoever small it may be, it’s ideologies soar high, reaching and affecting the people of Delhi in its own, different ways. Its doors are open for everyone, but it’s ideals are only for those who are willing to be affected by its aura.
In a world today where the far right is growing stronger day by day with its exclusive ideals, the emergence of a leftist bookstore and its survival through a decade, is somewhat fascinating.In today’s India, ‘Left’ is a complex term which is often misinterpreted or misunderstood, it’s various facets and shades often confused with each other. The many scholarly writings available in the store are often deemed controversial.
In such a scenario, May Day Bookstore stands robust with its red hoarding and buttressed ceilings, a form of resistance in itself. The ideals that it professes, the norms that its volunteers believe in are frowned upon today by thousands; but these same ideals and norms push the workers and the bookstore ahead.
Almost a decade on, May Day today stands in a tiny corner of Ranjit Nagar, as a mark of resistance and reform; as a silent protest against the rulers of the state and also as a way to redefine what left and its many facets mean to us.
Dastaan-E-Dilli 