Rain-damaged books sold at Rs 3 per kg

Lily Pond Complex (old Moore Market) usually bustles with activity: college kids flocking second-hand book shops to buy books in bulk. However, this year, things have been a little different. One can see hundreds of books left out to dry in the sun. When the floods hit Chennai, Lily Pond Complex was affected too as the compound was knee deep in water. 

Many bookshop owners whose shops had stayed locked couldn’t re-enter the premises. When they came back after three days many of their books were soaked, unusable. 

“I own a small shop and all my books were ruined. I have incurred a loss of 2 lakh,” says Balaji of Ak-shaya Books that sells second-hand books on engineering. “These books cannot be resold. I will have to take loans from financiers to restart my business,” he adds, distraught at the sight of the books haphazardly stacked and waiting to be sold to the kabadiwala. 

“The books we sell here cost anything between 500-1,500. We have lost books worth 10,000. We will sell the damaged books for 3 per kilo,” says Mohammed Rafiq, another shop owner. 

Most schools and colleges were closed. “Many institutions postponed exams, so this has affected the sales of books as the next semester will now start late, which means students will buy the books they need later too. Also after the floods, many books have been made available online or NGOs are giving them out for free,” says Krishnamurthy of Sri Krishna Book House. 

Besides books, many roadside second-hand goods shops were affected. “We weren’t able to do business for almost a week. Most of our products are spoilt. No one will buy what is left,” he adds.

Moore Market was originally built for hawkers in Broadway. The complex’s foundation stone was laid in 1898 by Sir George Moore, then president of the Madras Corporation. The building was constructed by A. Subramania Aiyar. In 1985, the market building was destroyed in a fire. The government later built another commercial complex in 1986 and named it Lily Pond Complex, which is west of the original site, to rehabilitate the traders of Moore Market. It now a hub for shopping for second-had books and goods. Some shops also sell pets.