A.K. Kuppuram is a familiar name among city’s book buffs. In fact, he is popularly called “Bookram” by many who know him for years. But tug him a bit and he reveals he doesn’t mind being called ‘Jonathan’.
“I am like the free-wheeling seagull in Richard Bach’s book learning about life and struggles. I am an ordinary man who wants to be different,” when he says so, his earnestness spills over. He is perhaps one person who defies his qualification, background and knowledge to own Madurai’s one of the landmark shops and definitely the only decent book store – The Turning Point.
With no qualms, he utters humbly, “I may not be well-read and love reading comics. But I want our children to be passionately interested in reading. Selling books is not a profession but a service. The reader alone enjoys reading the book he picks up and to help him choose the best book is my interest.”
This service he has been rendering in his own way for the past four decades, burning holes in his pocket all along. Yet, nothing can beat the zeal and sincerity of this 60 year old. The sheer tenacity and desire to draw both adults and kids to reading, drives him on his chosen path.
“Year after year, I may not break even, but still I like to fly high,” asserts Kuppuram who after finishing his Pre-University Course from Sourashtra College chose not to join his parents’ “Ideal coffee shop” on Jadumani Koil Street.
Instead, he applied to the Higgin Botham’s company of book sellers, and got an appointment as bus stand stall manager at Periyar in 1970 for a salary of Rs.70 per month plus five per cent sales commission. On his first assignment, he spent Rs.35 from his pocket on posters announcing sale of government school text books from class I to XII.
“The rush was unprecedented and we had to hire two extra salespersons to manage the crowd. People did not know that Higgin Bothams also sold government textbooks which were till hitherto available only at Government stores. The promotion helped, we sold the books at MRP and my commission crossed the store director’s salary!” he chuckles.
He was immediately promoted as Assistant to the branch manager and his salary multiplied 12 times.
“Lot of local VIPs from Fenner India and Madura Coats used to frequent the shop then and I took care in the shop lay-out offering them enough space to walk around while browsing,” he recalls. Two month strike in 1974, pulled him to the book shelf and he picked up “Jonathan Livingstone Seagull” by Richard Bach for a casual read.
“The book changed my life. It inspired me to launch myself in book business,” he narrates. Though he completed 16 years stint as the Higgin Bothams Store In charge, he started his own libraries in different parts of city under the name “Garuda”, “Arunodaya”, “Jonathan”. “I tell people pay only Rs.100 membership fee but benefit by reading books worth thousands of rupees,” is his plain logic.
What always pleased him was the summer vacation rush of children and finally in 1986, he started a joint venture with friends, "Motherland" - now Malligai book store -- opposite the railway station.
Eight years on, he went on his own with “Book Plaza” on Perumal Road and seven years later he ushered in the concept of a planned store lay-out and design by starting "Turning Point" on Town Hall Road.
Books neatly arranged over 1,000 square feet costing him Rs.25,000 as rent per month obviously brought him no monetary gain. Yet, he rode on determined to make his store and book exhibitions a lifestyle haunt for the locals.
The growing response to book fares he has been regularly conducting and the 5,000-odd various scheme card holders in his shop keep his hopes of succeeding alive.
“I started with only English books but realized people here read more regional language books. And now there is an increasing demand for books on spirituality, market economy, globalisation and professional courses like IT, engineering and medicine besides some bestsellers and the all-time moving children's books," he shares, adding though people make limited purchase, he has survived due to good friends and big institutions.
Kuppuram feels happy to find schools these days motivating children to read. “I unfailingly allow special discounts for children,” he beams, recalling how 200 people queued up in front of his shop from 7 a.m. on the day of release of volume VII of Harry Potter series.
Such responses make Kuppuram introduce innovative schemes like keeping his shop open round-the-clock during festival time or tying up with sweet and cracker shops ad gifting free diwali books to children when they come to buy bundle of crackers or a box of sweets. Another good way to clear dead stock is by offering customers their rate. “Such gestures generate enthusiasm, are talked about and more customers return,” he asserts.
This grey-haired owner of the bookshop tries to stock his book store well with rich collection and latest publications to bestsellers. He never says no to a customer and if you place a request for a particular book, he goes any length to get it for you from anywhere in the world. He is even kind enough to give a book if it catches your fancy though you do not have the money or the credit card at that moment.
All this as USP may not work out economical for him. But then essentially, it is the genuineness with which he tries to fulfill the heart-felt need of city’s readers that undoubtedly set Kuppuram apart.
(Making a difference is a fortnightly column about ordinary people and events that leave an extraordinary impact on us. E-mail to somabasu@thehindu.co.in to tell about someone you know who is making a difference)
