Books on wheels at PU Student Centre

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 12

At PU Student Centre, Janchetna van, which ferries books on progressive literature, exhibited some 30,000 novels, posters and short-story books. 

Their stall, hosted by volunteers of student organisation — PSU Lalkaar — and Janchetna’s Chandigarh chapter’s organiser Namita, showcased the leftover, left behind and left out contemporary literature authored by writers, including Prem Chand, Bhagat Singh and Rabindranath Tagore. With books translated to Hindi and Punjabi, the stall showcased literature from Russia, China and other countries.

Parked at the PU for three days, Janchetna’s ‘books on wheels’ van will also do the rounds of Mohali’s main markets during its 14-day sojourn in the city. “On Monday, we set up a stall at the PGGCG-42 and along with visiting other colleges, we’ll go to the Punjab Kala Bhawan, High Court, and district court,” said Namita.

Partly by evoking the curiosity of city’s voracious readers, but primarily for selling rarely available literature at subsidised rates, Janchetna sold a whopping 17,000 books on their first day at the University. “Some 2000 students visited us today. Most of these books are published by Rahul Foundation Publication, Parikalpana Prasarshan and Anurag Trust, which also run the Janchetna van jointly. Besides, the price of these books ranges between Rs 5 and Rs 200,” shared Namita. Janchetna also sells books published by Shaheed Yaadgari Bhagat Singh Prakarshan, Dastak Prakarshan, Granth Shilpi, Left Word, Corner Stone, and Aakar Books.

Started some 15 years ago in Lucknow, Janchetna aims at providing students and common folks with books translated to local languages and are hard to find at commercial bookstores. “The idea was to promote progressive literature because most books that fit the contemporary bracket are either too expensive or are for library issues. Since seven years now, we have been touring with these books across UP, Delhi, Gujrat, Maharashtra, and Punjab. It’s our fourth visit to Chandigarh,” Namita adds.

Stating that Janchetna is a no-profit-no-loss initiative, Namita shared, “Profit is pumped into publishing more such books,” she signs off.