Historian Ramachandra Guha buys books from rain-hit Bengaluru store, calls owner 'stoic and resolute'

A bout of heavy rain in Bengaluru has left a beloved independent bookstore dealing with damage, but also an outpouring of support that’s hard to ignore.

A tough hit for a city favourite

Bookworm, tucked away on Church Street, recently saw thousands of books damaged after rainwater seeped into the store. For a space that’s been part of the city’s reading culture for years, it’s been a rough moment.

But instead of fading into the background, the situation has sparked something else entirely, people showing up.

Ramachandra Guha drops by

Noted historian and author Ramachandra Guha visited the store a few days after the incident and shared his experience online. He described owner Krishna Gowda as “stoic and resolute” despite the losses, a quiet kind of resilience that seems to have struck a chord.


Guha didn’t just stop in for a quick look either. He picked up a few books himself, doing his bit to support the store in a practical way.

Readers show up, and it matters

What’s been especially striking is how readers across Bengaluru have responded. People aren’t just dropping by out of curiosity, they’re buying books, spreading the word, and making a conscious effort to help.

For many, it’s also been a bit of a wake-up call. Social media is full of people saying they’d been meaning to visit for ages and finally made the trip. Others are sharing memories of discovering books in places like Bookworm and why spaces like this still matter.

More than just a bookstore visit

Visitors at the store said Guha took time to chat with readers and even signed copies of his work, including Savaging the Civilized. For those who happened to be there, it turned an otherwise difficult week into something unexpectedly memorable.

‘We’re grateful’, Bookworm responds

The team at Bookworm has acknowledged the support pouring in. In a message to customers and well-wishers, they expressed heartfelt thanks for the concern, kind words, and offers of help.


They’ve also reassured readers that the store remains open, with efforts underway to get everything back to normal as soon as possible.