Akshara books - a connection between books and readers by D Suiam

Akshara Books is one of the unique bookstores in the city of Hyderabad with the idea of direct interaction with the readers and books recommendation, Akshara was founded in the year 1997 by Lakshmi Myneni. Growing up surrounded by books, Lakshmi garu created a bond with books at a very early age. After 15 years working as a former government officer, she wanted to start something new, not just another job that would shrink her time but something that would give her satisfaction. With the help from her cousin, Ashok an avid reader, she decided to give a home for books and space for the readers.

The bookstore started with the collection of classics, fiction, non-fiction, English literature, Telugu literature, children books and now is blooming with seven categories of books and there’s a recently-opened cafe to allow the reader to experience book reading in its entirety. The bookstore has a vast number of children’s books and non-fiction and they are the highest read, every month. 

“We have readers all over the city with different ages groups but it feels good to see, few of the dedicated readers come here to read when they were young and now with their children and share their beautiful memories with the bookstore and that gives us the reason not to give up,”

says Lakshmi garu.

She further adds “One of the main reasons for the store to stand still over the years, is the author hosting events to promote their book and give the chance to the readers to ask questions to the author and with all the revenue that we generate we concentrate on keeping the store going, this wouldn’t have been possible without the great support from my husband, employee and my readers.”

Akshara is not just a bookstore for a few readers, it has become one of the spaces where readers like to spend time and explore the world of reading. 

“We don't want to be just another bookstore that sells books to customers. We want to create a home for a million stories and a space where the reader likes to come and make memories and feel the delight of book reading” Lakshmi garu wishes.

Akshara started its journey from Banjara hills to Srinagar Colony to Ameerpet and finally found its home in Jubilee Hills. The current place was bought after scouting for an apt place for six years.

Like every bookstore in the city, Akshara has been through its ups and downs, but it manages to stand still firmly after many years. Lakshmi recalls "At first the shifting place, because of that we have lost a lot of our readers."

There’s a point of time when the store literally comes to roads, with very short notice to the evacuation post by the Municipal almost overnight. Then the online sale provided huge offers almost 70 per cent and then due to the Pandemic, the bookstore was closed for almost a year. Pandemic did affect the store badly but they are recovering slowly, operating under the state policy, with avid readers requesting for home delivery service and no contact in-store pickup and now with this new normal they are finally open like before. For that Lakshmi garu thanks her loved ones, employees and my readers because of them the store stays alive till today, they stay with her even in the toughest time of the store.

The store is located in Road no 70, Journalist Colony and is open on all days except Sunday from 11 am to 6:30 pm.

Bio note:

 


D Suiam is a Student of Bachelor in Commerce from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Born and raised in Jaintia hills, Meghalaya where he completed his high school in Navodaya. Reading and writing have been a part of his life since middle school and he also enjoys travelling around places and coffee.