Alwar’s roadside bookstore at Luz is synonymous with second hand books. In the neighbourhood is another bookstore — one that operates from a shop and trades in new books — which stands as a symbol of school books.
Started in 1947, Vijaya Stores retails all kinds of school books.
This bookstore was established by K. Sundaram, who quit his job as purchase manager at a store in Sri Lanka, in a 600 sq.ft. space at South Mada Street, Mylapore. When he began, Sundaram sold Tamil and English primers. Today, Vijaya Stores has over 30,000 books across classes and boards. It is said that the bookstore experienced a boom when the matriculation board was started.
“We are the major distributors of books to all schools. Even if the Textbook Corporation runs out of stock, customers can be assured of finding here the book they are looking for,” says V. Sridhar, part of the second generation of owners running the store. He is helped by his brothers S. Ganesh and V. Ramakrishnan.
Although the store retails engineering and other subject textbooks, school books are its forte. It also customises notebooks. Actor Crazy Mohan is said to be among the many personalities who shop from the store for sentimental reasons.
