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The man who built up the largest bookshop in Kerala started his career as a newspaper boy at the age of 14.  Immediately afterwards, young N.E.Balakrishna Marar became a commission agent in a book stall but was thrown out of it soon.

But sheer willpower and enthusiasm helped him surge ahead in life.  At the age of 18, Marar embarked on a new venture, selling books by foot.  Carrying the books on shoulders, he crisscrossed the city in search of booklovers and book buyers.  Many welcomed him wholeheartedly as he could cater to their literary tastes.

With determination and a couple of years of hard toil, he was able to save enough money to buy a bicycle to carry on his business.

From there onwards, Marar did not have to look back.  His mobile bookstore, aptly named ‘Touring Book Stall’ (TBS), became in due course the biggest bookshop in Kozhikode.  After a decade of relentless struggle, Marar established his permanent shop in 1957.

Today, TBS has to its credit 2500 titles in different categories, published under the banner of Poorna Publications.  Out of these, many have won prestigious awards and many have been prescribed as textbooks for schools and colleges.

After starting another sister concern called Manohar Book Depot, TBS took another venture to bring all educational paraphernalia under one room, be it books or sports goods or surgical items.

Today TBS is the largest bookshop in South India, catering to all segments from Kindergarten to professional institutions.

Marar has been honoured with the Akshara award for best bookseller thrice.  He has also received the Distinguished Publishers Award and Distinguished Book Sellers Award instituted by the Federation of Indian Publishers.  “You should learn to be happy with what you have achieved in life and should be grateful to God,” he sums up his outlook and message.

Courtesy: Deepa Menon, New Indian Express, March 17, 2004

Contributed by: Administrator

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