A Second-hand Bookshop by John Arlott

A Second-hand Bookshop

The sunlight filters through the panes

Of book-shop windows, pockmarked grey

By years of grimy city rains,

And falls in mild, dust-laden ray

Across the stock, in shelf and stack,

Of this old bookshop-man who brought,

To a shabby shop in a cul-de-sac,

Three hundred years of print and thought.

Like a cloak hangs the bookshop smell,

Soothing, unique and reminding:

The book-collector knows its spell,

Subtle hints of books and binding

In the fine, black bookshop dust

Paper, printer's-ink and leather,

Binder's-glue and paper-rust

And time, all mixed together.

`Blake's Poems, Sir-ah, yes, I know,

Bohn did it in the old black binding,

In '83.' Then shuffles slow

To scan his shelves, intent on finding

This book of songs he has not heard,

With that deaf searcher's hopeful frown

Who knows the nightingale a bird

With Feathers grey and reddish-brown.

by John Arlott

Found it in the Book:
Last Liberal and Other Essays by Ramachandra Guha

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Famous Old Faces of Doordarshan

Some people recall the faces and some people recall the names. Here are images of some of the famous readers and presenters of Doordarshan down the years. If you recognize any of them, leave a comment. [ Update 1 : Most of the faces now have names thanks to helpful comments by olio-gallimaufry ] [ Update 2 : Included image of one of the earliest presenters, Gopal Kaul. Send in generously from personal collection by son, Ashutosh Kaul. Sept, 2010.] [ Major Update 3: Got a tip-off about a documentary about the famous faces of Doordarshan from the makers of “The Golden Trail , DD@50 :Special feature on Golden Jubilee of Doordarshan ” from which these caps were taken. I managed to catch the incredible documentary and am adding some more faces/name and part of the docu here. New ones can be found after the image of Narotam Puri. 30th Oct, 2010] Pratima Puri. Believed to be the first Doordarshan reader.

Indian Cigarette Vintage Ads

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Target Magazine 1988 Annual Issue

Cover of Target Magazine 1988 Annual Issue (June) It's a copy that a cousin brother of mine owns. Years ago, I discovered this wonderful magazine only thanks to him. I was too young, about seven, when I first laid my hand on it. I never owned a single copy, my cousin used to do the buying. By the time I decided it was time for me to buy my first copy, the publishers had called quit on the magazine. Yes I did buy a copy of Teens Today. But never again. On the cover image above, one can see Granny, Gardhab Das, Detective Moochwala with his Pooch and many other characters that made this magazine special . -0- Related post: Cherry Blossom ad featuring Gavaskar from this magazine -0- Update: Apr 23, 2014 Rama shared April 1988 issue of Target Magazine

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