Less than six months ago, we wrote in this column about the demise of a popular bookstore in SoBo, and how it left a void in the lives of its loyal patrons across the city for whom it was a nurturing and nourishing space that spanned generations. It’s bad enough that our readers have to grapple with an already shrinking ecosystem, with fewer reading spaces [physical bookstores and libraries]; the pandemic hastened the process where such platforms, not just in Bombay but across the country, broke into a sweat fearing the worst.

Most recently, the other end of this industry saw its first casualty with news that publishing house, Westland will discontinue operations from February 28. It translates to another knock with a far reaching impact not just on readers, but also their list of authors. In all our years of being associated with books, first as a reader, then a library and bookstore patron and finally, as a journalist and author, this is an unheard of scenario. We’ve heard of books ceasing publication for various reasons – from bans to going out of stock because they were not commercially viable for a reprint. But to hear of a prominent publishing house with a strong list having to end its run, is a sad development.