In the heart of Bengaluru, a fresh chapter is unfolding for book lovers with the launch of “The Book Hunters of Bengaluru”, a budding society for bibliophiles, collectors, and scholars united by their shared love for the written word. The group recently hosted its first gathering at Bookworm on Church Street, drawing personalities like writer and collector V.R. Ferose, artist Dimpy Menon, and cricket writer Suresh Menon.
Ferose, who is passionate about book collecting, quipped, “Collecting books is not a hobby; it is a disease.” He explained that buying books to read and acquiring them to collect are two different pursuits. “I own more books than I can finish in a lifetime, simply because I love the physicality of books,” he added.
For Suresh Menon, however, reading remains central. “I want to understand how one transitions from being just a reader to becoming a collector. Often they overlap, but the distinction is important,” he said.
The society traces its roots to The Antiquarian Bookworm, a section within Bookworm dedicated to rare and antique titles. Inspired by international book collector meetups in the US and UK, Ferose highlighted the importance of bookstores as community hubs, though he acknowledged challenges in India. “Paper quality, weather conditions, and preservation affect the collectability of books. Old doesn’t always mean valuable—it has to be well-kept,” he noted.
The club aims to create a platform for exchanging knowledge on book preservation, collection practices, and the evolving future of physical books. A WhatsApp community is also being set up for enthusiasts to stay connected.