During the lockdown my thoughts always ricocheted between reality and fantasy, my brain finding comfort in the idea of the magic of books. Maybe it was the fact that once upon a time, the only thing that could help me was this magic.

My brain had to find a similar refuge when Kitab Khana caught fire, and its books were gone, gone from its cedar shelves, gone from its leather chairs, they were gone. As soon as I received this devastating news, my mind opened the door to a world, a world with no Kitab Khana. I tried and tried to imagine this world, I concentrated, I meditated but all that went through my brain was a blank screen and nothing else.

So, I wrote a letter to the owners of Kitab Khana, Mrs. and Mr. Somaiya, asking if I could do anything to make sure that Kitab Khana can be open again, open to bibliophiles all over Mumbai. They assured me that they were rebuilding it already because Mumbai couldn’t lose another bookstore, it just couldn’t. And just like they had promised Kitab Khan re-opened like a phoenix rising from its ashes.

A few days later my mother got a call from Mrs Somaiya telling us that Kitab Khana would be re-opening on the 11th of March and they would like me to light the lamp for the inauguration, to leave the darkness behind and pave the way for a path of light.

I have to say, the only thing that kept me from crying then is the fact that I would stain the new books or that my tears would extinguish the candle. In the picture you can see me light the candle and the second picture is me with Mr and Mrs Somaiya, the passionate booklover owners of Kitab Khana.

Thank you Mr Samir Somaiya and Mrs Amrita Somaiya for this honour that you bestowed upon me. And thank you Kitab Khana for emerging like a phoenix from its ashes cause only in the darkness can we see the light.