READING WITH A COFFEE AT HIMALAYAN READER’S CORNER

Bijay Bhandari is the man behind the creation of Reader's Corner. Photo-LB Thapa

By LB THAPA

If you are a regular reader or even you keep a soft corner for books, then I’m dead sure you must have heard the name Himalayan Reader’s Corner in Pokhara. It can also be true to say that all the tributaries of literature eventually confluence at the Himalayan Reader’s Corner. Well, if you don’t believe then at least visit this place once and witness yourself. 

Bijay Bhandari is behind the creation of the Himalayan Reader’s Corner. His love for literature finally led him to such a brilliant business idea. After the completion of his master’s degree in management, he did not show much inclination to employment. He rather wanted to do something different that should keep his love for literature alive. 

“Though I hold a degree in management, I have always been in love with literature. Ever since I came to my consciousness, I was sure I would never work for others. Thus, I started thinking of doing something different---but what? This very question was eating away my vitals. After much contemplation, I came up with an idea, and this way the Himalayan Reader’s Corner came into existence”, said Bijay Bhandari, the owner of Reader’s Corner. 

All photos by LB Thapa

The concept of Himalayan Reader’s Corner is unique. It is the first of its kind not only in Pokhara but also in Nepal. Actually, Bhandari wanted to start a business without sacrificing his love for literature. He wanted to make sure that his new business should allow him enough reading time. Then the idea of Himalayan Reader’s Corner germinated in his mind. He opened up a huge library with all kinds of books and a conference hall to conduct literary programs. The book lovers can sit here and read any books they like and it is completely free. The library has also made available light snacks for the readers. They can order tea, coffee, juice, cold drinks, ice cream, and bakery items. Serious readers can also become members of the library. So that they can borrow books of their choice. The overall ambiance of the library is so attractive that the serious readers cannot resist the temptation of visiting the library again and again. 

Interestingly enough when Bijay Bhandari started the Himalayan Reader’s Corner in 2007, then not a single person appreciated his endeavor---not even his parents. If there was anyone who supported his venture, she was his wife Bhawana Thapaliya. The couple then continued struggling to give life to the Himalayan Reader’s Corner.  

“Almost all of my friends and even my parents had completely rejected the idea of opening a library like a business. All of them vociferously declared that my business would meet a disaster and I would lose all my investment. However, I was still quite optimistic about my new venture, because deep down in my heart my real intention was not to rake in. I knew very well that this is not a kind of business to make quick bucks. If my intention was to make quick bucks then I would have opened a Dance Bar or Dohori Sanjh. Actually, my main purpose was to keep my passion for literature alive and at the same time I wanted to make little money so that I can support my family---that’s all”. 

This is true that when Bijay Bhandari had opened Reader’s Corner, he was met with acute criticism from a wide circle of his friends, relatives, and well-wishers. But today due to hard work and perseverance, Bhandari did make all his criticizers silent as the Himalayan Reader’s Corner has succeeded to achieve a degree of name and fame in Pokhara. 

“Today I’m much happier because I have not only earned name and fame through Himalayan Reader’s Corner, but also financial gain. Though my intention was never to make money through Himalayan Reader’s Corner, however, as time passed by I began making a decent income from my venture. Today, Himalayan Reader’s Corner is the prime venue for Book launching, Poetry Recitation, Literary Meet, educational conferences, and seminars. Now it is due to the impact of Covid-19, the business has slowed down. Otherwise, in the past, the workload was so much that I had to be busy around the year. The good news is that now lockdown has been eased. As a result, regular and new visitors have started coming to the Himalayan Reader’s Corner.  Moreover, now I’m preparing to make necessary arrangements so that those regular programs which were held before the lockdown could be continued. Such institutions like Pokhareli Yuba Sanskritik Paribar, Random Readers, Muktak Manch, Gajal Sandhya, and Laghu Katha Bachan, and so on and so forth conduct their programs at the Himalayan Reader’s Corner on regular basis”. 

A wide-open space that too in the downtown area has definitely added extra advantage to the Himalayan Reader’s Corner. The readers can find enough space to read books in complete solitude. No exaggeration but the truth has it that the Himalayan Reader’s Corner is the only library in the city with so many facilities for book lovers. On top, a wide range of books is the prime attraction to pull more readers. Moreover, the joy of reading a book actually multiplies by thousand times when a tasty coffee is in your hand---and this place is also famous for its quality coffee.   

“I have maintained a small yet quite up-to-date collection of latest and most popular books of different genera. Without fail, I always replenish the stock with new books in demand. However, I have noticed that most readers prefer non-fiction, motivational books, travelogues, memoirs, and biographical books. Well, I don’t claim my library is the biggest in the town. But I think I have maintained a good collection of books to meet the growing demand of many readers”, added Bhandari. 

This is an undeniable fact that due to the internet nowadays many books, newspapers, and magazines are easily accessible on smartphones and laptops. This is the reason the printing of books, newspapers, and magazines has taken a nosedive throughout the world in recent years. Thus, many people must be thinking that at a time when most of the young readers prefer reading eBooks, do they really visit the library to read books? When I asked this question with Bijay Bhandari, he said, “I’m the firm believer of hardcopies. Of course, in the beginning, most people began reading eBooks on electronic devices. But now they have realized the charm of reading a physical book and that cannot be substituted. If you go through the latest data, then it is evident that book printing has already increased in many countries. The truth has it that the joy of holding a book and flipping over its pages cannot be duplicated”. 

In the four years of running the library, many well-known personalities of the country have already visited the Himalayan Reader’s Corner. Some of them are Prithvi Subba Gurung, former Chief Minister of Gandaki, Rajesh Hamal, actor, Manjushree Thapa, writer, Samrat Upadhaya, writer, RD Sharma yuyutsu, writer, poet, and publisher, late Dr. Harka Gurung, geologist, Dr. Gobinda Bhattarai, former Prime Minister of Nepal, Amar Neupane, writer, Buddhi Sagar, writer, Shivani Singh Tharu, writer, Ajit Baral, writer & publisher, Saru Bhakta, writer, Tirtha Shrestha, poet, Saraswati Pratikshya, writer, Ganesh Paudel, writer, Tirtha Gurung, writer, Narayan Wagle, and the list is infinite. 

“However, I want to mention a popular name of the country. His passion for books and untiring reading habit is noteworthy indeed. He is of course Amrit Gurung, a lead vocalist of Nepathya Musical Group. Amrit Gurung is one of the regular visitors of Himalayan Reader’s Corner. He is not only a popular singer but also a voracious reader. He regularly visits the Reader’s Corner and buys books as well. Perhaps many people don’t know one special trait of his personality. He seldom uses vehicles to meet his friends or go shopping. Most of the time, he prefers walking rather than taking a public or private vehicle. I could not believe it when Amrit Gurung told me that he walked all the way from Pokhara to Kathmandu on foot. And he did it not for once but several times”, revealed Bhandari. 

After the lowering cases of the Covid-19 across the country, most of the business houses, though slowly, have come into operation. Many readers have started visiting the Himalayan Reader’s Corner as ever as always. This is really a very good sign for the business community of the country as a whole. 

“The fact is that the rapid spread of Covid-19 has almost ruined the business throughout the world and Nepal is no exception. Now when the Covid-19 cases have significantly subsided and the vaccination process has been going on across the country, I hope there will be no further lockdown. I’m dead sure---only if there is no lockdown, the business will immediately take a flight. Thus, every possible effort should be taken by the government to contain Covid-19 cases from spreading”, opined Bhandari.  

Without a doubt, many serious readers will definitely find the Himalayan Reader’s Corner a perfect place to retire with a book. And if there is a tasty coffee in your hand, the joy of reading is simply unspeakable. 

If you happen to land in Pokhara and want to spend some quality time reading books, then never miss this place…and one more thing, don’t miss your coffee here. Because the taste of coffee is equally as famous as the place itself. 

LB Thapa is a Pokhara-based freelance writer and author. 

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