Memoirs of India, an Antiquarian Bookstore in Delhi That is Safeguarding the Subcontinent’s Rarest Stories

In the bustling heart of South Extension, Delhi, lies a sanctuary for bibliophiles and history enthusiasts—Memoirs of India, a third-generation antiquarian bookstore that has been preserving the narrative of the Indian Subcontinent for over four decades. Co-founded by Rishabh Jain, who serves as the store's cataloguer, this family enterprise represents more than just a business; it's a custodianship of history itself.

The story began unexpectedly in the late 1960s when Rishabh's grandfather purchased a collection of rare books from a Parsi doctor, unknowingly planting the seeds of what would become a family legacy. "That small collection became the seed of a lifelong pursuit, preserving and passing on history through the printed page," Rishabh reflects. His father expanded the business from Calcutta (now, Kolkata) to Delhi, where better infrastructure and access to collectors allowed the venture to flourish. For Jain, the connection was inevitable: "Growing up around those books, their smell, their paper, their quiet dignity. It wasn't a profession waiting to be inherited, it was a love waiting to be understood."

The Art of Curation

What sets Memoirs of India apart is its carefully defined curatorial philosophy. Every book must tell a story about the Subcontinent: its people, art, landscape, or colonial history. "We're drawn to books that reflect the texture of lived experience, not just printed information," Jain explains. The store specialises in rare works related to travel, natural history, art, and cartography, with each acquisition evaluated not merely for its rarity but for whether it "adds something meaningful to the narrative of India."

Among their most treasured pieces is the Voyages of the East Ship by Jan Huygen van Linschoten, published in 1599. "It's more than 400 years old, and it offers a European account of India at the height of exploration," Jain notes, describing how holding it feels like "holding a slice of the world's curiosity about India." Such pieces exemplify the store's commitment to authenticity and craftsmanship, where provenance becomes an integral part of each book's story.

Bridging Tradition and Technology

The store's evolution from a traditional shop to a globally recognised name came with its embrace of digital commerce. This wasn't about abandoning their roots but extending their reach. "Going online was not about scaling for the sake of scale; it was about making that same experience available to someone sitting across the world," Jain shares. Every listing includes detailed notes, photographs, and transparent grading, ensuring that "what you see is what you get."

Jain observes that India's rare book market remains young compared to Western counterparts, where centuries of structured valuation exist. However, he finds beauty in this difference: "Indian collectors have the tendency to buy more emotionally; they connect with heritage and nostalgia. There's still a beautiful innocence about collecting; it's driven by love rather than metrics."

The Shift and What Lies Ahead

As reading habits shift towards digital formats, Memoirs of India focuses on storytelling to engage younger audiences. Through social media, exhibitions, and sharing the intricate process of collecting and preserving, they make history approachable. "Once people see how a 200-year-old atlas or botanical print was made, they begin to value the craft," Jain explains.

The vision ahead involves meaningful growth—new exhibition spaces, collaborations with museums and archives, and selective digitisation to widen access without replacing the physical experience. Their South Delhi store remains central to this vision, a place where collectors can still browse, discover, and connect with tangible pieces of history.

"Books are not just objects; they're pieces of time," Jain concludes. In an increasingly digital world, Memoirs of India stands as a reminder that some stories deserve to be held in your hands, their weight a testament to the generations that preserved them.