In the shadow of Partition’s chaos, two refugee survivors Balraj Bahri from Malakwal and Bhag from the North-West Frontier Province found love in the crowded relief camps of Delhi. Their shared journey began in Kingsway Camp, where they rebuilt their lives amidst adversity.

By 1953, resilience and resourcefulness led Balraj to open what would become Bahrisons Booksellers, using his mother’s gold bangle as seed capital. Bhag became the store’s steadfast partner managing cash, balancing family duties, and later retiring early to dedicate herself wholly to their shared dream.

Their story captured by Aanchal Malhotra, their granddaughter, in Chronicle of a Bookshop blends personal memory with history. The book, updated for Bahrisons’ 70th anniversary, highlights not just the store’s legacy, but the human behind every shelf.

Today, Bahrisons remains an iconic literary haven in Delhi’s Khan Market, emblematic of love that endured, stories preserved, and a bookstore built from the ashes of displacement. It reminds us that in the folds of history, the most powerful narratives are those rooted in courage, connection, and the love of stories.